Written By Serafine
Dec. 22, 2016, 7:07 p.m.(6/16/1005 AR)
[It is noted by the scholar that Serafine Velenosa came in and as has been done previous, sang a song, smiled, and left, but the diligent scholar got down every word]
It was on one bright March morning I bid Setarco 'good bye'
and I took the road to another town my fortune to retry.
I cursed all my foreign money, no credit could I gain,
which filled my heart with longing
for the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I stepped on board a coastal skiff
beneath the morning sun.
I rode the winds 'til evening and I laid me down again.
All strangers there, no friends to me until a dark girl towards me came,
and I fell in love with an island girl by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I said, "My pretty island girl, my money here's no good,
and if it weren't for the alligators
I'd sleep out in the wood."
"You're welcome here, kind stranger. Our house is very plain,
but we never turned a stranger out on the banks of the Saffron Chain."
She took me into her mother's house and she treated me right well.
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell.
To try to paint her beauty I'm sure 't would be in vain,
So handsome was my island girl by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I asked her if she'd marry me, she said that this could never be,
for she had got a lover and he was far at sea.
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
until he'd return to his island girl
by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
So fare thee well, my bonny own girl, I never may see you more,
but I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore,
and at each social gathering a flowing glass I'll drain,
and I'll drink a health to my island girl
by the shores of the Saffron Chain.*
[*adopted from an old Irish song called 'The Lakes of Pontchartrain', adjusted for Arx. I highly recommend the version sung by Aiofe O'Donovan]
It was on one bright March morning I bid Setarco 'good bye'
and I took the road to another town my fortune to retry.
I cursed all my foreign money, no credit could I gain,
which filled my heart with longing
for the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I stepped on board a coastal skiff
beneath the morning sun.
I rode the winds 'til evening and I laid me down again.
All strangers there, no friends to me until a dark girl towards me came,
and I fell in love with an island girl by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I said, "My pretty island girl, my money here's no good,
and if it weren't for the alligators
I'd sleep out in the wood."
"You're welcome here, kind stranger. Our house is very plain,
but we never turned a stranger out on the banks of the Saffron Chain."
She took me into her mother's house and she treated me right well.
The hair upon her shoulders in jet black ringlets fell.
To try to paint her beauty I'm sure 't would be in vain,
So handsome was my island girl by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
I asked her if she'd marry me, she said that this could never be,
for she had got a lover and he was far at sea.
She said that she would wait for him and true she would remain
until he'd return to his island girl
by the shores of the Saffron Chain.
So fare thee well, my bonny own girl, I never may see you more,
but I'll ne'er forget your kindness in the cottage by the shore,
and at each social gathering a flowing glass I'll drain,
and I'll drink a health to my island girl
by the shores of the Saffron Chain.*
[*adopted from an old Irish song called 'The Lakes of Pontchartrain', adjusted for Arx. I highly recommend the version sung by Aiofe O'Donovan]
Written By Juliet
Dec. 22, 2016, 6:56 p.m.(6/16/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Eirene
The Lady Eirene has been a font of good advice and even better stories.
I appreciate her visits. And I've been quite fond of her since the very first time we met.
I appreciate her visits. And I've been quite fond of her since the very first time we met.
Written By Cicero
Dec. 22, 2016, 4:55 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Friend facing danger
Will not underestimate
Old foe time made new
Will not underestimate
Old foe time made new
Written By Cicero
Dec. 22, 2016, 4:12 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Pleasant Company
The Superfluous Beauty
Brain that needs no air?
The Superfluous Beauty
Brain that needs no air?
Written By Cara
Dec. 22, 2016, 4:08 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Notes on an investigation:
The bodies I have found bear similar wounds to those inflicted on the scholar and the servant, all with their throats cut, their guts slashed, and cuts on each palm. Scorches were found with at least two of the deceased.
It killed my father the same way.
Gods. I can only hope that there are not more of us to die this way, before we can stop it.
The bodies I have found bear similar wounds to those inflicted on the scholar and the servant, all with their throats cut, their guts slashed, and cuts on each palm. Scorches were found with at least two of the deceased.
It killed my father the same way.
Gods. I can only hope that there are not more of us to die this way, before we can stop it.
Written By Bethany
Dec. 22, 2016, 4:01 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
( From the desk of B. Mercier, Steward: )
After reading an entry of interest, curiosity leads me to pen a question posed to any that might read this --
How do you define beauty?
Intellect and good character is beautiful. Survivors, struggling out of the mud like a lotus are beautiful. Perfectly flawed and honest about fault is beautiful. Lit from within, burning bright passion is beautiful.
After reading an entry of interest, curiosity leads me to pen a question posed to any that might read this --
How do you define beauty?
Intellect and good character is beautiful. Survivors, struggling out of the mud like a lotus are beautiful. Perfectly flawed and honest about fault is beautiful. Lit from within, burning bright passion is beautiful.
Written By Mydas
Dec. 22, 2016, 1:12 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
I wrote of beauty earlier, without giving definitions beyond the broad strokes of paint meant to inspire rather than state. But perhaps I should revisit the topic, and add my small contribution to the eternal question: What is beauty?
That which elates your heart is beautiful.
That which enslaves your mind is beautiful.
That which silences you is beautiful.
That which draws soulful tears is beautiful.
That which lives among us is beautiful.
And that which we most mourn is beautiful.
That which elates your heart is beautiful.
That which enslaves your mind is beautiful.
That which silences you is beautiful.
That which draws soulful tears is beautiful.
That which lives among us is beautiful.
And that which we most mourn is beautiful.
Written By Juliet
Dec. 22, 2016, 12:30 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
It comes down to choice.
The Dark Reflection does not care what you do once you've stared into the mirror - only that you do so. Only that you become comfortable with what you see.
His is the realm of the dead - his children are demons. It is a Lycene custom to view these demons as a metaphor for dark passions run amuck.
Everyone will at some point feel the urge to kill someone. Yet the great majority of us will never be murderers.
Every moment you live, you choose who you are.
You choose if your jealousy will drive poison into the cup of your cousin, to bring you into consideration for succession.
The Thirteenth has certainly seen enough people do that, or worse.
You choose if your sense of pride and the need to be recognised as a great person will drive you to do great works.
I expect the Thirteenth has seen that, too, albeit more rarely.
What Tehom asks of us, is to gaze into the mirror and accept all that we are.
And to make ourselves into the persons we want to be, with our eyes open and with true knowledge of ourselves.
To deny ourselves - our passions, even the darkest ones - is to, to continue to metaphor, summon a demon into this world.
And demon summoning is the greatest of blasphemies against Him.
The Dark Reflection does not care what you do once you've stared into the mirror - only that you do so. Only that you become comfortable with what you see.
His is the realm of the dead - his children are demons. It is a Lycene custom to view these demons as a metaphor for dark passions run amuck.
Everyone will at some point feel the urge to kill someone. Yet the great majority of us will never be murderers.
Every moment you live, you choose who you are.
You choose if your jealousy will drive poison into the cup of your cousin, to bring you into consideration for succession.
The Thirteenth has certainly seen enough people do that, or worse.
You choose if your sense of pride and the need to be recognised as a great person will drive you to do great works.
I expect the Thirteenth has seen that, too, albeit more rarely.
What Tehom asks of us, is to gaze into the mirror and accept all that we are.
And to make ourselves into the persons we want to be, with our eyes open and with true knowledge of ourselves.
To deny ourselves - our passions, even the darkest ones - is to, to continue to metaphor, summon a demon into this world.
And demon summoning is the greatest of blasphemies against Him.
Written By Mason
Dec. 22, 2016, 12:25 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
I consider myself something of a blessed man. I think I have been smacked down by the gods as many times as I've been lifted up, so I like to think myself somewhat lucky. Or at the least, blessed.
But now that I've been able to collect my thoughts, I now consider the idea that I have now seen real, true evil twice in my life. Once was unwillingly, the other more recent was done knowing exactly what was involved.
I have seen evil before, and I now know that it's face takes many different shapes and forms. Twisted, and it corrupts everything around it. Nature, animals, people. The most disturbing part about it is the simple fact that it does not bother me as much as I had thought. It still bothers me, but after Pyre, I realize that I am simply...used to it. I have come to know what to expect. And the horror that others see, it's like a veil being pulled from their eyes. And they finally see, in that first moment, realize what I have been carrying for so long. Maybe understand why I tried so hard to warn them about. I had no desire for them to see what I already have. But I think at this point, where we are, that's wishful thinking.
Demons are not allegorical. They are real. Very real.
But now that I've been able to collect my thoughts, I now consider the idea that I have now seen real, true evil twice in my life. Once was unwillingly, the other more recent was done knowing exactly what was involved.
I have seen evil before, and I now know that it's face takes many different shapes and forms. Twisted, and it corrupts everything around it. Nature, animals, people. The most disturbing part about it is the simple fact that it does not bother me as much as I had thought. It still bothers me, but after Pyre, I realize that I am simply...used to it. I have come to know what to expect. And the horror that others see, it's like a veil being pulled from their eyes. And they finally see, in that first moment, realize what I have been carrying for so long. Maybe understand why I tried so hard to warn them about. I had no desire for them to see what I already have. But I think at this point, where we are, that's wishful thinking.
Demons are not allegorical. They are real. Very real.
Written By Bethany
Dec. 22, 2016, 12:19 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Rook
"A smile and a few honeyed words can open gates that would be shut to a thousand swords."
Written By Lucio
Dec. 22, 2016, 12:03 p.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Valencia
A beautiful and generous woman, I met her at an inn while performing for the first time in Arx. Bold at first, then intriguingly shy, she has offered her friendship. Though I suspect she is well above my station, she seemed to enjoy the mystery of keeping it to herself, which is as enticing an invitation as I have encountered here yet.
Written By Cassius
Dec. 22, 2016, 11:56 a.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
Always, but now more than ever, I seek Lagoma's strength, so I might endure change; Limerance's compassion, so I might forgive those who wrong me; Gloria's wisdom, so I might remain focused on my duty; Gild's guidance, so my path may be laid clear to me; and Vellichor's vigilance, so that I might never forget what I have asked my Gods for.
With these gifts I might survive Arx yet.
With these gifts I might survive Arx yet.
Written By Mydas
Dec. 22, 2016, 11:16 a.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
If the world's a stage, then we must all accept that all of us, no matter our roles and the lenght of our parts, must eventually exit. All actors know this, no matter how beloved or hated by the crowds, there will come the time for one's performance to end. Yet despite this inevitability, we should not lose hope. These actors enter eternity by marking our hearts, the roles they played forever remembered. And if I may make another comparison to the world of theater, an exit is just another entrance. Though they may have left us, somewhere, sometime, they await their cue to enter once more, and play their new roles with the same passion that earned them their immortality.
Written By Mydas
Dec. 22, 2016, 11:08 a.m.(6/15/1005 AR)
I found some of the flowers and plants I'm meant to take back with me to Arx. Among them a flower of purple hues with a heart of red. I have seen such plants before in the south, but to find one so similar up north was a surprise. Perhaps the seeds found their way here via a merchant, and despite the different soil, the flower was able to make the north its home. A quality to admire. I wonder if the plant's alchemical proprities changed, if its southern appearance is all that remains of its origins. I'll be sure to ask Miss Valery upon my return.
Written By Valery
Dec. 22, 2016, 10:17 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
This week it's being quiet.
I've made some more ointment for the bruises, some paint and more oils.
Apart of that, I've seen Master Gaving a few times more.
Things still feel weird.
I've made some more ointment for the bruises, some paint and more oils.
Apart of that, I've seen Master Gaving a few times more.
Things still feel weird.
Written By Agnarr
Dec. 22, 2016, 3:20 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
Business looks a little more likely, lately.
Written By Agnarr
Dec. 22, 2016, 3:20 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
Business looks a little more likely, lately.
Written By Calista
Dec. 22, 2016, 2:48 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Valkieri
Ours was an interesting introduction. I cannot say it was pleasant nor was it invidious. Well, it was possibly more the latter than the former but allow us to let bygones be bygones. It taught me a valuable lesson nonetheless; Not every man cares for wine and casual conversation.
Written By Calista
Dec. 22, 2016, 2:40 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Kima
It feels like ages since we met and an acquaintanceship began to grow. She is a lady of steel and blades but she is flesh and blood still. I have felt the pain of her recent loss and if I could offer her the slightest bit of solace I would. Nothing can replace what is lost.
Written By Calista
Dec. 22, 2016, 2:38 a.m.(6/14/1005 AR)
Relationship Note on Joscelin
Exceptionally talented - there are none who compare to the mastery of her artistry.
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