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Written By Magpie

Oct. 2, 2017, 9:12 a.m.(4/27/1007 AR)

Oh Patron my Patron;
You shine like the sun!

Making art of your kin,
is so very much fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I'm drunk, but damn did I make a good haul this week! I may have indulged on some new luxuries for my room. Mae's probably annoyed, but one can't deny the comfort of aeterna.

GRAYHOPE FOREVER! And Cullers are okay too.
Why did I ever give so many shits about blood relations? I know who my real family is.

Written By Valerio

Oct. 2, 2017, 12:20 a.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

People often amuse me, and at the wrong times. When some eldritch creature demands you make a choice between two substances. Do not make the choice, or, pick a third option! Still, we may have made progress against a curse tonight. I'm just not sure of its cost.

Written By Shard

Oct. 2, 2017, 12:05 a.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Whatever happens, a lot more Abandoned are going to die in the next few weeks.

Written By Arcelia

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:56 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I am just over three months pregnant now. I haven't felt the baby move yet but my stomach has gotten to the point of visible swelling. I am at once excited and terrified.

Written By Olivia

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:56 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Once again I'm off to deal with trouble in the forest, although this time it is... if not a larger endeavor than the last that Princess Reese led, a more dangerous one. Again she is in command, but unlike dealing with the rejuvination of soils and replanting of forests and crops, this time there is likely to be conflict with the local abandonned. I shall be well behind the lines, of course, tending to those I can, but it is still a frightening sort of thing.

Written By Arcelia

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:54 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

With the money gathered construction will begin soon.

Written By Eirlys

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:50 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I am looking forward to getting a chance to spend time with my niece. Perhaps I can keep her for a night so that we can bond.

Written By Audric

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:42 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Relationship Note on Calandra

This is going to be fun! Hopefully it doesn't, you know, get us all killed. Probably ten percent chance of death. I like those kind of odds! Plus, working with Calandra's always a good time.

Written By Monique

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:40 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I have always been a collector of pictures. Never more so than lately.

Written By Calandra

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:38 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I'm to begin working on a play at the Theater, it should be incredibly fun, with an interesting theme. I do look forward to it, hopefully we can make the preparations we need to start it soon.

Written By Orazio

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:34 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Although I have never been one of those who pursues the art of the sword with any industry, I do occasionally work through my forms as a method of exercise, and a way to keep myself in the shape I expect my body to retain for as long as possible. I rarely have company in this, and even more rarely as pleasant company as my new instructor. I learned, I worked, and more - I felt more relaxed than I have in a while. It is nice, on occasion, to talk about nothing with someone who wants nothing from me except an exchange of puns.

Admittedly, I am not certain he /wanted/ that last, but he did start it.

Written By Donella

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:28 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Darren is going North. This time, I am fortunate to be able to go with him. I dislike being dependant on interpreters, but I fear having people pantomiming at you and gradually increasing their volume, as funny as it can be, isn't really making a good showing of it if you intend earnesty. So I am writing a phrasebook, may Vellichor forgive me. I have hired a tutor, so I have someone to ask, "How do you say, "My eyes are up here?"" There is precious little in the way of pronunciation to be gleaned from writings in the library—words are my life, and important to me... this should be easier. But my tongue must be misshapen, that I can't make it curl around the sounds for, "Thank you for your hospitality, but please get your dog off my leg," or, "Are elk supposed to smell that way?" Syntax and grammar are only ever practice. I build vocabulary as I can. But are there words compelling enough to stammer through to convey the substance of what I have to say. There is no interpretive dance I can use to tell someone that they are being cruelly deceived and betrayed, and that I want to help them. No amount of shouting, not even the correct syllables will make someone believe me, if they don't wish to. I pray that at least my intent may be read in my eyes, if it cannot be found on my lips.

Written By Sparte

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:14 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)


Sparte's Big Dumb Fish Recipe

Thrax fishes up a lot of fish that are pretty common at market, and then there is the occasional beastly sized one. This recipe calls for a grilling surface at least as long as the fish.

Ingredients
Your big dumb fish. Cleaned, de-boned, and skinned if it doesn't have scales. (Wisdom from a Thrax Sailor - You'll get so sick you'll wish you died)
A mixture of lard, salt flakes, and spices to taste. You need enough to cover the entire fish, inside and out.
Juice from a bitter citrus. Bigger fish, get more citrus.

Prep Step - The Beast

Now I don't know what you caught or how you caught it, but you have a big fish that is at least as long as your arm. You could cut it into little pieces and cook it like a regular fish, but there is no fun or spectacle in that. After you've cleaned and deboned the fish (and skinned it if needed) you will want to turn it into two giant fillets of meat. Pay attention to the thickness. For every finger's length of thickness, add an additional coating of your lard blend. You'll need to whip up a surface to cook this on that'll get solidly hot, but you don't want to burn it. Make sure you can support your monstrosity on the cooking surface you've setup while still being able to tend to the flame and keep the temperature controlled. If it is too big of a challenge, cut the fish lengthwise to thin it as many times as needed. Never cook something thicker than a working hand this way.

Cooking

You should have your cooking surface setup, your fish cut and cleaned, and properly coated by now. Get your fire going and lay the fish out. You want the fire hot, but not hot enough to blacken the fish prematurely. You may need an experienced cook to help you manage the fire. If the fish starts to smoke at any point that is your signal to flip the fillet. After you flip it, hit the topside with some of the juiced citrus. Be liberal, spread it around. After you've flipped it twice and coated it, cut into the middle of the fish to check if it has cooked through. If at least two thirds of the meat looks cooked, you're good to take it off the heat. If less than a third of the fish looks cooked then your heat is too high, toss some water on the flames so it'll smoke but not go out. Double the cook time and pray you didn't just ruin your monster fish.

Suggested serving method: On large wooden tray, or planks if size requires. Enjoy.

Written By Brianna

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:08 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I have started the process of re-decorating my suite in Halfshav Hall. It is a little thing to focus on, but one that I can accomplish quickly and to my satisfaction. Those things sometimes provide so much calm in a world that doesn't often provide it otherwise.

Though, sometimes I stop and think-- Will I still be here in a month? Two? Three? Who can ever see where the future will take us.

Written By Mira

Oct. 1, 2017, 11:04 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

I am so glad the awful winter is over. Back to wearing normal clothes again, and not a moment too soon. I also need to remember to stockpile more strawberry preserves this time around...

Written By Mia

Oct. 1, 2017, 10:50 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

It is not often that 10,000 swear their fealty at once -- to me or to anyone. That our efforts, which came at great cost to me, to my House, to my liege-lords, were such an undeniable success is something that I take great joy in. The unwavering faith that I see so many place in the gods to whom they've sworn themselves, I place in the Compact itself -- in its righteousness and in its strength, in the security that it offers, in the unity that it is capable of inspiring. To bring so many into its arm will, I suspect, be both the greatest privilege and the crowning acheivement of my life.

But it is a weight, too, when considered with the gravitas that such a responsibility deserves. It is no easy thing to give up your life as you have always known it, to walk forward with each foot planted in a different world. I owe them, these so-called Prodigals, so much more than every lord or lady owes their people because it is not simply a matter of noblesse oblige. No, I find myself very suddenly in the position of having the trust of so many laid at my feet, their futures placed in my hands.

To those that have sworn their fealty to me, know this --

I recognize the sacrifices you have made. I see the hope that you hold in your hearts. And I offer these words, as the lords of the Twainfort has long sworn to their people, with all of Arvum and the annals of history as witness:

I pledge to honor your service as it deserves, and to reward loyalty in kind.
I swear to offer you my protection, my justice, and my love,
for you will carry on my memory and my legacy when I am no more.
From this day forward, you are of my house, even as the very stones.
If I renounce you, I renounce myself and all that I am.

(OOC: Portions of this pledge were lifted from Changeling: the Dreaming, which was written by lovely people. Some parts were altered, some not. It's recently been re-released in their 20th anniversary edition. Do recommend.)

Written By Sparte

Oct. 1, 2017, 10:49 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)


Sparte's Shrimp Recipe

I don't want to say anyone I sailed with or stayed with on my trip to Maelstrom can't cook, but they certainly cook things differently. This is my take on how to make some of their dishes more like the ones I enjoy.

Ingredients

5 tablespoons of Butter
1 pound fresh Maelstrom shrimp
2 cups of sea water, strained well
3 tablespoons of Honeyed Whiskey (Make friends with someone in Laurent)
A sharp spice to taste - I used Saffron

Prep Step - Salt Flakes

This takes a while, but you can do it in advance. Pour the sea water into a cooking pan and heat it very gently. Avoid a boil. After about an hour, the water will have all left and you'll be left with the salt from it. Once the water is no longer visible, scrape the bottom of the pan. You'll have made your own salt flakes, which can be used for other recipes as well.

Cooking

Put half the Butter into your pan and heat it so it melts and spreads. Add the shrimp to the pan, still in their shells, in a single layer. Lightly season them with some of the salt flakes. Don't shift them once you put them in the pan, they're start to brown after a few minutes. Add the rest of the butter, shift the pan so it gets less heat but can still bring a light boil. Turn the shrimp and continue to cook, shaking the pan, for about half a minute. Take off heat and add the Honeyed Whiskey, stirring it around in the pan so they're coated. Season with remain salt flakes and your spice of choice.

Enjoy.

Written By Mira

Oct. 1, 2017, 10:42 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

How exactly *does* one pray to something that is asleep? Aion's nature makes it remarkably difficult to approach, from both an observational level and a theological one. Aion dreams the world into being, which includes humans and other assorted sentient creatures. Those creatures then have their own dreams. Do those dreams then have their own substance? Can materials and objects and even *concepts* generated within a dreamworld be brought forth from our dream into Aion's?

If so, does that mean Aion waits for us, just beyond the veil of sleep?

Written By Alaric

Oct. 1, 2017, 10:38 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Relationship Note on Lucita

Oh, and it would be a terrible oversight indeed not to mention Lady Lucita's rebec playing as part of the artistic week gone by. It was very melodic, and quite interesting to hear!

It also seems quite difficult to play. Fortunately for the Compact, nobody has suggested I try taking up the rebec anytime soon.

Written By Alaric

Oct. 1, 2017, 10:33 p.m.(4/26/1007 AR)

Something of an artistic themed week gone by; an interesting art auction, another offer of instruction, even some very nice compliments about some of my offhanded doodles.

I probably shouldn't admit to doodling lest they decide it's a sure sign of idleness and pile more meetings on my schedule.

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