Written By Faye
Nov. 17, 2018, 12:17 a.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
I've heard the advice that you should always try to be the dumbest person in the room. That way you always have the chance to be learning something.
There are some days when I feel I have no problem doing that.
There are some days when I feel I have no problem doing that.
Written By Shard
Nov. 16, 2018, 10:58 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
I don't know the answer to this question. I don't think someone else can answer it for another person in any kind of satisfying way. People react in different ways, situations have different contexts. I don't know what I'd do.
But as for me, if I'm very, very luck and do everything right, maybe, one day, I'll get to find out.
But as for me, if I'm very, very luck and do everything right, maybe, one day, I'll get to find out.
Written By Naka
Nov. 16, 2018, 10:37 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Cybele
I always intended to speak with Cybele again. They were a wonderful teacher and conversationalist.
I recall that I asked Cybele about their titles. Game as anything, Cybele rattled off this list that I can remember only the barest gist of, just barely completing the whole thing with an entire lungful of air. I was impressed by the recitation and said so. Cybele just said, “I practiced it.” The things they did, they just did, and were not impressed by. I was.
Anyway, I had intended to speak with Cybele again.
I recall that I asked Cybele about their titles. Game as anything, Cybele rattled off this list that I can remember only the barest gist of, just barely completing the whole thing with an entire lungful of air. I was impressed by the recitation and said so. Cybele just said, “I practiced it.” The things they did, they just did, and were not impressed by. I was.
Anyway, I had intended to speak with Cybele again.
Written By Fortunato
Nov. 16, 2018, 10:25 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Leona
I cannot possibly better Leona's statement. I want to talk about heroes and stories, all the same.
A hero is a story. One distilled and focused. Every person you have ever admired, every legend you ever wanted to emulate occasionally had feet of clay or a heart of glass. I like my stories with the feet of clay and the heart of glass. I find stories of pure people doing purely heroic things and living only for Others or the Compact difficult instructions to live by. Mix the flaws back in those stories and I find them more compelling. That enshrined moment of triumph and tragedy has context. The story has more of a journey in it, and I love journeys.
The ideals still serve a purpose, just as a simple, but beautiful image serves a purpose. You focus on a bright point. Come storm, come trauma, come collapse and terror, you still have that simple, sure bright point to crawl toward. That is what ideals are for.
The journey is still important. The truest memorial we can give to anyone is to remember and celebrate them as they were, with all those wonderful, terrible intertwined stories. We are dust and light, memory and soul, and when we die, we return to the Wheel and we may yet return from it. But memories fade if they are not kept. The archives of Vellichor and the tales, told and retold, of those who love us, these are the true memorial. And may even the commonest of soldiers be granted it.
A hero is a story. One distilled and focused. Every person you have ever admired, every legend you ever wanted to emulate occasionally had feet of clay or a heart of glass. I like my stories with the feet of clay and the heart of glass. I find stories of pure people doing purely heroic things and living only for Others or the Compact difficult instructions to live by. Mix the flaws back in those stories and I find them more compelling. That enshrined moment of triumph and tragedy has context. The story has more of a journey in it, and I love journeys.
The ideals still serve a purpose, just as a simple, but beautiful image serves a purpose. You focus on a bright point. Come storm, come trauma, come collapse and terror, you still have that simple, sure bright point to crawl toward. That is what ideals are for.
The journey is still important. The truest memorial we can give to anyone is to remember and celebrate them as they were, with all those wonderful, terrible intertwined stories. We are dust and light, memory and soul, and when we die, we return to the Wheel and we may yet return from it. But memories fade if they are not kept. The archives of Vellichor and the tales, told and retold, of those who love us, these are the true memorial. And may even the commonest of soldiers be granted it.
Written By Orathy
Nov. 16, 2018, 9:49 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Drunk be me truth. It ain't like they can steal anymore of me stuff, as I ain't got nothin left that be valuable to em... eh? Aye, reckon I be out thar helpin if the bastards fightin monsters if they didn't take what weren't theirs. AYE, Bottoms UP! Shit thing is Old Grim be dead. Fucker were a good man to kill with in the Silent Wars. That be a damn shame. AHh, but drink for 'em too. Tears in his wake 'n all that shit.
Written By Bliss
Nov. 16, 2018, 9:23 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
I am happy to report that my recent comments had nothing to do with Messere Sable. Who they were about should be fairly obvious - I wrote about them and castigated them rather publicly when they were alive, as well. They did not do anything that has made me reconsider those words, and so they stand, as does my opinion of them, into death. Others I have had public spats with that did sufficient to make up for their failures? Those ones I've honored.
I have to say that I find this response rather amusing, more than anything. My mouth certainly does not taste like foot, I certainly do not feel like less of a Whisper for having made the comments I did, and the comments about heroes not being egotistical and grandstanding, as attacks on me made of the thinnest gossamer? I wonder why there is the need to attack me, when I am not claiming to have these qualities. Perhaps it is because my words, my arguments, themselves are not really being challenged beyond "you shouldn't say that when people are mourning."
Here is what I have written in the past about heroes:
---
There are a few people alive, today, who I would consider heroes, but there are a few problems with naming them such. The most notable issue, to me, is that when they're alive, they still have the opportunity to ruin everything good they have ever done in a single moment. It's something that you can see happening again and again in the past, and it's something that I've had all too much experience with, in people who were not what they claimed to be.
The sad truth of the matter, though, is that many of the people we consider heroes and honor as such had sickening truths to them - truths that are easier to ignore once they are dead, truths that are easier to fathom in the contexts of their whole lives. They did not always do the right thing, by any means, yet some of the things they did are such shining examples that we choose to follow them. There is also the issue that what one people finds heroic, others might find monstrous. There are a number of statues in the Hall of Heroes you would never see outside of their own halls for this reason.
Heroism is embodying the ideals of your people. And if you are led to believe you are a hero while alive, well, then you are going to find it really easy to justify doing anything you want - after all, you're doing it, so it must be heroic. There are a few prominent, dangerous examples of this, so it's probably best to just wait until people die.
---
This is hardly a new drum I am beating. Now, I am writing this as I am wandering around the Hall of Heroes, because there is this ridiculous notion that we have that our heroes were not people who yearned for the public appeal (which is, clearly, an attack on me, but again - I am not a hero, I am an entertainer). Allow me to take a moment and list a few of the people in these halls.
- Prince Rogan Thrax, the "Benevolent Slavemaster," whose slaves "Worshiped him as a god and loved him like a father."
- Princess Alarissa Grayson, who refused an arranged marriage, started a war, avenged her family, refused the crown and fucked off to a life of adventure so that she could marry for love.
- Prince Donerian Thrax, whose speech to the Assembly of Peers is perhaps a textbook example of blustering self-importance.
- Duke Orlando Velenosa, a duelist who lived life to the fullest, salacious and scandalous, honored because he was greatly wronged and found complete and total vengeance.
- Prince Weohstan Redrain, the slayer of beasts, celebrated in loud and boisterous song for doing ridiculously brave things and whose final words were, "It was worth it." (If you do not think this man gladly recounted the tales of his conquests over a large mug of ale, I suggest you spend more time in Redrain Ward)
- Warchief Fyrva, who laughed at and mocked all invaders into his lands while ruthlessly destroying them, telling them to "Stop me if you can." Certainly no ego to that man, hm?
Was Koraj Marin the kind of hero you look up to, perhaps, Dame Morrighan? Somehow, I suspect not.
There is one criticism that strikes home: That I have not yet done enough. On this matter, I am keenly aware. I have a number of excuses, from having to settle my own personal affairs and put my past behind me to the fact that, particularly at this time of year, my arm does not hold up well in the kind of sustained battle that a war is. You can thank Everard Telmar for that.
But these excuses are flimsy, and I recognize that, so I will be doing more in the future. I am a deeply flawed person, broken in many ways. I have never shied away from this. It is an intrinsic part of my humanity.
Duke Vercyn, I am not certain where you have gotten this recent grudge you've developed against me, but it's both rather baffling and rather hypocritical. You do understand that you are trying to control my emotions, yes? Literally telling me to not do something, when what am I really doing? Saying that someone who is being lauded shouldn't be? Which of us is actually being controlling? Now, if you go and reread my first writing, you'll see that I did, in fact, take time to honor those who hadn't been mentioned - those six hundred families of yours are included in that. Don't worry, you are hardly in any danger of being damned due to my feelings on them.
Also, you can hardly criticize the Lycene Halls for having killers when you literally have the Nameless Assassin in the Redrain Halls. Again, more hypocrisy from the Duke Halfshav. That wasn't the issue, anyway. The issue was whether our heroes can be people who seek popular acclaim, and very clearly, the answer to that question is 'yes'.
I was writing specifically about someone who was being compared to and held equivalent to someone who is in the Hall of Heroes. Hence why I keep returning to that. Someone who absolutely does not deserve that kind of honor.
As for my words and opinions being meaningless? I suppose I will let your own responses be the judge of that.
I have to say that I find this response rather amusing, more than anything. My mouth certainly does not taste like foot, I certainly do not feel like less of a Whisper for having made the comments I did, and the comments about heroes not being egotistical and grandstanding, as attacks on me made of the thinnest gossamer? I wonder why there is the need to attack me, when I am not claiming to have these qualities. Perhaps it is because my words, my arguments, themselves are not really being challenged beyond "you shouldn't say that when people are mourning."
Here is what I have written in the past about heroes:
---
There are a few people alive, today, who I would consider heroes, but there are a few problems with naming them such. The most notable issue, to me, is that when they're alive, they still have the opportunity to ruin everything good they have ever done in a single moment. It's something that you can see happening again and again in the past, and it's something that I've had all too much experience with, in people who were not what they claimed to be.
The sad truth of the matter, though, is that many of the people we consider heroes and honor as such had sickening truths to them - truths that are easier to ignore once they are dead, truths that are easier to fathom in the contexts of their whole lives. They did not always do the right thing, by any means, yet some of the things they did are such shining examples that we choose to follow them. There is also the issue that what one people finds heroic, others might find monstrous. There are a number of statues in the Hall of Heroes you would never see outside of their own halls for this reason.
Heroism is embodying the ideals of your people. And if you are led to believe you are a hero while alive, well, then you are going to find it really easy to justify doing anything you want - after all, you're doing it, so it must be heroic. There are a few prominent, dangerous examples of this, so it's probably best to just wait until people die.
---
This is hardly a new drum I am beating. Now, I am writing this as I am wandering around the Hall of Heroes, because there is this ridiculous notion that we have that our heroes were not people who yearned for the public appeal (which is, clearly, an attack on me, but again - I am not a hero, I am an entertainer). Allow me to take a moment and list a few of the people in these halls.
- Prince Rogan Thrax, the "Benevolent Slavemaster," whose slaves "Worshiped him as a god and loved him like a father."
- Princess Alarissa Grayson, who refused an arranged marriage, started a war, avenged her family, refused the crown and fucked off to a life of adventure so that she could marry for love.
- Prince Donerian Thrax, whose speech to the Assembly of Peers is perhaps a textbook example of blustering self-importance.
- Duke Orlando Velenosa, a duelist who lived life to the fullest, salacious and scandalous, honored because he was greatly wronged and found complete and total vengeance.
- Prince Weohstan Redrain, the slayer of beasts, celebrated in loud and boisterous song for doing ridiculously brave things and whose final words were, "It was worth it." (If you do not think this man gladly recounted the tales of his conquests over a large mug of ale, I suggest you spend more time in Redrain Ward)
- Warchief Fyrva, who laughed at and mocked all invaders into his lands while ruthlessly destroying them, telling them to "Stop me if you can." Certainly no ego to that man, hm?
Was Koraj Marin the kind of hero you look up to, perhaps, Dame Morrighan? Somehow, I suspect not.
There is one criticism that strikes home: That I have not yet done enough. On this matter, I am keenly aware. I have a number of excuses, from having to settle my own personal affairs and put my past behind me to the fact that, particularly at this time of year, my arm does not hold up well in the kind of sustained battle that a war is. You can thank Everard Telmar for that.
But these excuses are flimsy, and I recognize that, so I will be doing more in the future. I am a deeply flawed person, broken in many ways. I have never shied away from this. It is an intrinsic part of my humanity.
Duke Vercyn, I am not certain where you have gotten this recent grudge you've developed against me, but it's both rather baffling and rather hypocritical. You do understand that you are trying to control my emotions, yes? Literally telling me to not do something, when what am I really doing? Saying that someone who is being lauded shouldn't be? Which of us is actually being controlling? Now, if you go and reread my first writing, you'll see that I did, in fact, take time to honor those who hadn't been mentioned - those six hundred families of yours are included in that. Don't worry, you are hardly in any danger of being damned due to my feelings on them.
Also, you can hardly criticize the Lycene Halls for having killers when you literally have the Nameless Assassin in the Redrain Halls. Again, more hypocrisy from the Duke Halfshav. That wasn't the issue, anyway. The issue was whether our heroes can be people who seek popular acclaim, and very clearly, the answer to that question is 'yes'.
I was writing specifically about someone who was being compared to and held equivalent to someone who is in the Hall of Heroes. Hence why I keep returning to that. Someone who absolutely does not deserve that kind of honor.
As for my words and opinions being meaningless? I suppose I will let your own responses be the judge of that.
Written By Amund
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:48 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
It is not about getting anything back. What is lost is lost. Gone forever.
It is about the satisfaction they who took your loved ones can never do it ever again.
It is about the satisfaction they who took your loved ones can never do it ever again.
Written By Amund
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:48 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
It is not about getting anything back. What is lost is lost. Gone forever.
It is about the satisfaction they who took your loved ones can never do it ever again.
It is about the satisfaction they who took your loved ones can never do it ever again.
Written By Bliss
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:41 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
My suggestion, Archduchess, for as little as it is worth: Once you have avenged their death, if it is not enough? Live in a way that both honors the fallen and spites the memory of those who have wronged you. Make the loss mean something. Use it to drive the world to be a better. The death of those who have wronged us is never, ever enough on its own.
Written By Soren
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:38 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Eleyna
It's enough if you want it to be. They're dead and I'm not. Good enough.
And the ones you lost? They're also dead, so they don't give a shit what you feel about it.
And the ones you lost? They're also dead, so they don't give a shit what you feel about it.
Written By Ryhalt
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:34 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Bliss
Just curious for those watching this carriage fire of an exchange. Because really, it's fascinating, but is there ever a time where you don't put your foot in your mouth?
Written By Joscelin
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:32 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Adora
I do appreciate the practical artisans.
Written By Silas
Nov. 16, 2018, 7:29 p.m.(1/4/1010 AR)
It is pertinent to remember that every fabled hero didn't get there by themselves, and likely had numerous other individuals they admired who no one now remembers.
They are likely among these number of "cretins".
They are likely among these number of "cretins".
Written By Aureth
Nov. 16, 2018, 6:34 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Mourning is not about who a person was, but about what the person mourning lost when they died.
Grief is not moral superiority. I myself have often remarked upon the way a nitwit will become a noble paragon as soon as you start to write the eulogy. Ultimately, we crush failings into shadow and place our dead upon a plinth. Who cares? They're not listening anymore. You can't correct their flaws or persuade them to change or coax an apology or shame or humiliation from their bones.
Nitwits have friends and families too. Does it bother you?
One day, it will be your lover, your sister, your father, your child whose body is laid to rest because their soul is fled to the Mother of Beginnings.
Have a little human empathy. It helps.
Or don't. The gods grant us the freedom of our own paths as well as our own hearts. Skald would never tell anyone not to be an asshole.
Grief is not moral superiority. I myself have often remarked upon the way a nitwit will become a noble paragon as soon as you start to write the eulogy. Ultimately, we crush failings into shadow and place our dead upon a plinth. Who cares? They're not listening anymore. You can't correct their flaws or persuade them to change or coax an apology or shame or humiliation from their bones.
Nitwits have friends and families too. Does it bother you?
One day, it will be your lover, your sister, your father, your child whose body is laid to rest because their soul is fled to the Mother of Beginnings.
Have a little human empathy. It helps.
Or don't. The gods grant us the freedom of our own paths as well as our own hearts. Skald would never tell anyone not to be an asshole.
Written By Thena
Nov. 16, 2018, 6:27 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Daemon
I barely know what to write.
The Solace took losses. I knew we would. We always do. Whenever you have a group like us, men and women sworn to protect, to stand unyielding in the face of evil, we take losses.
I learned today that I lost my second in command, Sir Daemon Dracone. He died in the night, of a poisoned wound.
He was one of those people who was always just...there. The very picture of an Oathlands knight. He wasn't flashy or boastful, he just knew when something needed to be done and did it. Sometimes he did things whether they needed to be done or not. And that damned duck...
I made him my second, in part, because he had this amazing knack for knowing when I was getting too riled up and he would remind me, in the most polite and unmistakable of ways, that I needed to take a step back and consider my actions. Often, when I was getting too heated in the white journals, I would come back to my office to find a tall glass of milk on my desk. That was the sign.
If that didn't work, he'd sit on my back while I did pushups.
I did a lot of pushups.
He could have been Godsworn, but I never asked him about it. To take the vows is often a burden, and he seemed like a man who already had a burden.
I didn't know any of his family, but if there's anyone out there who knows what his final wishes were, pleased get in touch with me. Otherwise there's a place for him in the grand mausoleum for the Faith Militant. Anyone who objects can kiss my ass.
The Solace took losses. I knew we would. We always do. Whenever you have a group like us, men and women sworn to protect, to stand unyielding in the face of evil, we take losses.
I learned today that I lost my second in command, Sir Daemon Dracone. He died in the night, of a poisoned wound.
He was one of those people who was always just...there. The very picture of an Oathlands knight. He wasn't flashy or boastful, he just knew when something needed to be done and did it. Sometimes he did things whether they needed to be done or not. And that damned duck...
I made him my second, in part, because he had this amazing knack for knowing when I was getting too riled up and he would remind me, in the most polite and unmistakable of ways, that I needed to take a step back and consider my actions. Often, when I was getting too heated in the white journals, I would come back to my office to find a tall glass of milk on my desk. That was the sign.
If that didn't work, he'd sit on my back while I did pushups.
I did a lot of pushups.
He could have been Godsworn, but I never asked him about it. To take the vows is often a burden, and he seemed like a man who already had a burden.
I didn't know any of his family, but if there's anyone out there who knows what his final wishes were, pleased get in touch with me. Otherwise there's a place for him in the grand mausoleum for the Faith Militant. Anyone who objects can kiss my ass.
Written By Cambria
Nov. 16, 2018, 6:20 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Sir Daemon has died.
I have born a second son.
I have born a second son.
Written By Jyri
Nov. 16, 2018, 5:49 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Spent the day with my son, did some painting.
You really treasure those simple things when having faced true horror.
You really treasure those simple things when having faced true horror.
Written By Delilah
Nov. 16, 2018, 5 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
If I could go back to the night we met,
When the night was hushed and the streets were wet,
I'd replay when we danced for stars above,
And I learned what it means to be in love.
Together we found the secret of life,
Wisdom ablaze in your dusky eyes.
I know you like the sun knows the sky,
You give me wings and teach me to fly.
Adrift in the vastness of the world,
I'll lie back to watch the cosmos twirl.
Feeling my way without your guiding light,
I invoke your name in a prayer to the night.
1010
When the night was hushed and the streets were wet,
I'd replay when we danced for stars above,
And I learned what it means to be in love.
Together we found the secret of life,
Wisdom ablaze in your dusky eyes.
I know you like the sun knows the sky,
You give me wings and teach me to fly.
Adrift in the vastness of the world,
I'll lie back to watch the cosmos twirl.
Feeling my way without your guiding light,
I invoke your name in a prayer to the night.
1010
Written By Lisebet
Nov. 16, 2018, 4:44 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Relationship Note on Jordan
I have learned that Sir Jordan died, protecting his liege. This leaves me somewhat conflicted emotionally. I am sad he is gone - he was always friendly and honorable, the few times I met him. I liked him, as he seemed to be a good person. I regret that I will not be able to get to know him better.
And how does that lead to conflict? Well. Truthfully? I am very glad that his liege still lives.
And how does that lead to conflict? Well. Truthfully? I am very glad that his liege still lives.
Written By Solange
Nov. 16, 2018, 4:36 p.m.(1/3/1010 AR)
Do you know that moment at a party, when you believe that you are whispering to a companion and no one can hear you, but everyone stops talking at just the right time and you end up shouting something rather embarrassing?
Neither do I.
Neither do I.
Please note that the scholars may take some time preparing your journal for others to read.