Written By Haakon
June 26, 2020, 2:26 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
I know reavers better than you do.
I am a reaver. I've raided since I was a boy, because the winters are lean, the rocks grow little, and my people will not starve.
And though you can keep right on basking in your self righteous hate, the plain truth is that you're railing against a world that doesn't exist, anymore.
Ivan Helianthus and those like him are dying. The Tyde and those like her are ready to spend silver and blood to see them off. No more thralls are being made. Everyday, more thralls are freed. Now we're freeing slaves, and you find a way to hate us for that, too. That you think all Islesmen are slavers at heart who will sell souls for a quick silver says more about you than it says about us.
What a day when an Islesman needs to tell a Mainlander to stop living in the past and let go of their backward views on Thralldom.
I am a reaver. I've raided since I was a boy, because the winters are lean, the rocks grow little, and my people will not starve.
And though you can keep right on basking in your self righteous hate, the plain truth is that you're railing against a world that doesn't exist, anymore.
Ivan Helianthus and those like him are dying. The Tyde and those like her are ready to spend silver and blood to see them off. No more thralls are being made. Everyday, more thralls are freed. Now we're freeing slaves, and you find a way to hate us for that, too. That you think all Islesmen are slavers at heart who will sell souls for a quick silver says more about you than it says about us.
What a day when an Islesman needs to tell a Mainlander to stop living in the past and let go of their backward views on Thralldom.
Written By Haakon
June 26, 2020, 2:12 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
Everyone is paid.
Whether it's your family who pays your needs so that you can train and fight, or whether it's an overlord who pays their vassals with fief and lands, or a war chief, who pays tribal warriors out of plunder.
Everyone is paid.
Get in a tavern brawl for fun, I suppose that's one of the only ways not to get paid, but of the sorts of folk who fight battles, all silvers come from somewhere.
Whether it's your family who pays your needs so that you can train and fight, or whether it's an overlord who pays their vassals with fief and lands, or a war chief, who pays tribal warriors out of plunder.
Everyone is paid.
Get in a tavern brawl for fun, I suppose that's one of the only ways not to get paid, but of the sorts of folk who fight battles, all silvers come from somewhere.
Written By Esme
June 26, 2020, 12:39 a.m.(7/17/1013 AR)
I was in the right place at the wrong time, or the wrong place at the right time. I saw something with claws. I saw what damage it could do.
Still, upon reading journals. I can also see what damage words can do. Choices of the words we use. Tones. The whole of it.
We must all follow the paths of our lives. I just ask that we love each other on the way. The dawn is always beautiful. The sun always rises. May we offer praise for that new day.
Still, upon reading journals. I can also see what damage words can do. Choices of the words we use. Tones. The whole of it.
We must all follow the paths of our lives. I just ask that we love each other on the way. The dawn is always beautiful. The sun always rises. May we offer praise for that new day.
Written By Ravna
June 25, 2020, 9:14 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Absolute Freedom Absolutely! Haaa! Cut the strings! Break the chains! BURN THE TETHERS!
Or, you know. Don't. Whichever.
Or, you know. Don't. Whichever.
Written By Margot
June 25, 2020, 8:42 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shade
I wonder if I need to send some funds to the Temple of Vellichor.
The liberated, the people whom Tyde is paying to be freed and ferried to freedom are not being held captive in Tyde. So long as they acknowledge the Compact they're free to do anything no questions asked, no repayment needed for the coin Tyde is putting out for their passage.
If they choose to stay they are to be given coin and employment. And in some cases more if they have the skills to warrant it.
If THAT is slavery. Any one who has serfs in their fields is a slaver.
The liberated, the people whom Tyde is paying to be freed and ferried to freedom are not being held captive in Tyde. So long as they acknowledge the Compact they're free to do anything no questions asked, no repayment needed for the coin Tyde is putting out for their passage.
If they choose to stay they are to be given coin and employment. And in some cases more if they have the skills to warrant it.
If THAT is slavery. Any one who has serfs in their fields is a slaver.
Written By Porter
June 25, 2020, 8:19 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Mabelle
Why??? This oil is perfectly fine! I don't light torches WITH MY BEARD. We need to have a chat on what facial hair is for.
Written By Sunaia
June 25, 2020, 7:52 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
(Scholar, may I ask a question? Please, please don't - write - oh you are already - never the mind.)
I ask: How is one supposed to respond to any comment in these Whites that I dislike -- like, vehemently dislike? May I call their face stupid - or is that too immature for a noble of fine breeding?
It is --
(Scholar has said yes, it is not the proper way to respond to an entry you disagree with.)
Foo.
I ask: How is one supposed to respond to any comment in these Whites that I dislike -- like, vehemently dislike? May I call their face stupid - or is that too immature for a noble of fine breeding?
It is --
(Scholar has said yes, it is not the proper way to respond to an entry you disagree with.)
Foo.
Written By Shard
June 25, 2020, 7:43 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Haakon
They're reavers.
I'm sure I don't have to explain it to you, but for any non-Isles person reading this journal:
Thralldom is slavery, a majority of thralls are war thralls, quite a number of war thralls were not taken in battle, they were taken through raids, the ones who did the raiding were and are almost entirely reavers, because that's what reavers do, they did not care which Abandoned tribe or village did what when they picked targets for reaving, and neither did they care who they tossed into chains and sold back to the Isles, including children too young to even lift a weapon, even if they'd ever actually seen one before.
Reavers were the slave-takers (and in at least half of the Isles, still are). The reavers who did not want to be slave-takers have had nothing interrupt their reaving, and thus they are not the ones being told to go be liberators now. And I do not understand how anyone can know that and still think setting slave-takers who had no qualms whatsoever in who they killed, or who they enslaved, on nebulous targets like 'the Abandoned' and 'the Eurusi' and 'enemies', with the mandate of 'kill slavers now', are going to give one single, solitary fuck about whether they actually liberate anyone or not. Do we expect them to suddenly be devoted to the cause of abolition? Do we expect them to be restrained, and only 'rescue' actual slaves from actual slavers?
No. They're going to grab whoever they want, wherever they find them, and they're going to do what they've always done, which is to sell people. Because someone's buying, and buying at an extraordinarily high sum. And they're going to sell as many people as possible, because that is a damn lot of money. What's going to happen if Tyde refuses to buy? What do you think happened to a thrall they couldn't sell?
Never trust slave-takers to care about the freedom and well-being of someone they can make money from. Or someone they can't. And never trust anyone who only starts caring about the evils of slavery when you put a price on human beings and say you're buying.
I'm sure I don't have to explain it to you, but for any non-Isles person reading this journal:
Thralldom is slavery, a majority of thralls are war thralls, quite a number of war thralls were not taken in battle, they were taken through raids, the ones who did the raiding were and are almost entirely reavers, because that's what reavers do, they did not care which Abandoned tribe or village did what when they picked targets for reaving, and neither did they care who they tossed into chains and sold back to the Isles, including children too young to even lift a weapon, even if they'd ever actually seen one before.
Reavers were the slave-takers (and in at least half of the Isles, still are). The reavers who did not want to be slave-takers have had nothing interrupt their reaving, and thus they are not the ones being told to go be liberators now. And I do not understand how anyone can know that and still think setting slave-takers who had no qualms whatsoever in who they killed, or who they enslaved, on nebulous targets like 'the Abandoned' and 'the Eurusi' and 'enemies', with the mandate of 'kill slavers now', are going to give one single, solitary fuck about whether they actually liberate anyone or not. Do we expect them to suddenly be devoted to the cause of abolition? Do we expect them to be restrained, and only 'rescue' actual slaves from actual slavers?
No. They're going to grab whoever they want, wherever they find them, and they're going to do what they've always done, which is to sell people. Because someone's buying, and buying at an extraordinarily high sum. And they're going to sell as many people as possible, because that is a damn lot of money. What's going to happen if Tyde refuses to buy? What do you think happened to a thrall they couldn't sell?
Never trust slave-takers to care about the freedom and well-being of someone they can make money from. Or someone they can't. And never trust anyone who only starts caring about the evils of slavery when you put a price on human beings and say you're buying.
Written By Jael
June 25, 2020, 7:32 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Haakon
I am not paid to fight. Am I doing it wrong?
Written By Mabelle
June 25, 2020, 1:13 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Porter
I really hope Lord Porter Kennex will not attempt lighting torches anytime in the near future.
Written By Haakon
June 25, 2020, 12:30 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Shard
Warriors are paid to fight.
Captains are paid to carry passengers.
To say a reaver shouldn't be paid for killing slavers, and carrying their victims freely to the next port where they can remain or move on seems odd.
Calling it slavery seems stupid.
Captains are paid to carry passengers.
To say a reaver shouldn't be paid for killing slavers, and carrying their victims freely to the next port where they can remain or move on seems odd.
Calling it slavery seems stupid.
Written By Archeron
June 25, 2020, 12:07 p.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Anyone that knows my cousin Margot knows that she finds her own path and makes her own choices.
What I do want to observe is that the ideal is not the world where we live. The world we live in is imperfect, at times it is just bloody awful and unrelenting hurt. At others it will give moments of joy. Until it wishes to pull those away perhaps. We live in a world of civil war now in the Isles - whether we wish to call it that or pretend otherwise. We have pretended otherwise for so long.
Some houses like Grimhall position themselves to welcome the neutral houses who refuse to recognise Helianthus and the Eurusi are wrong - I do not hold anything or judge them for this, much as I hope that when Thrax does fight Grimhall's influx of neutral parties will not impact on their choices. Indeed, Grimhall remained neutral through much of the Tyde Rebellion, until Donrai offered land and support to get them on side, land which passed to Kennex and helped them become who they are. I do not think any would say Grimhall did anything but choose wisely for its own people there.
Others try to find other paths - Kennex has long embraced a radical new road. One that did not quite start a discussion, unless we are to erase the work and campaigning done by people like Prima Shard, and the Liberators, but which accelerated it onto the main stage. This is a path that some would say is righteous, but which upsets tradition.
And then there is what my cousin has tried to do. Which is find a way to accept what we are, but a way which can deliver - through tradition - a righteous outcome. I have often said that tradition is important, but when a tradition harms you, you cast it aside. We do not use old iron weapons that long since lost their edge simply because our grandfathers used them before. She is willing to pay reavers, give stipends to those freed, so that they will take those people alive and bring them to a place of safety where they can be released, and find a new home or be offered one with us. Yes. It places an economic value on a human life - but that is the world we are in. That value is there. When we paid off Thrall owners for their slaves, we did that. When we take coin as sell swords, we do it as well - that coin is to end another, a taking of a life as surely as slavery if perhaps a much brisker method.
Civil war comes, and it will mean reaving. And there is no viciousness like a war of brother against brother. Look at the attacks that occured as the last civil war lingered on. Families presented to the sea on crosses, younger siblings staked to rocks to drown in the rising tide to the sounds of their family's cries. Look to the taking of Tyde Hall and the death of my aunts, my uncles, my cousins. From their old age beds to their cribs, dead. And those Thralls my family kept as well. Perhaps this isn't the ideal way to stay the hand of the reaver when a hold is taken, but it is /a/ way. One that recognises realities. One that recognises tradition.
For my part, other than these musings that you can ignore or listen to or do whatever you want with, if it shall come to war we will take everything we can and melt it down to pay for my cousin's promise, and any man of mine that kills a Thrall who isn't fighting will join the nobles in being presented to the sea. House Tyde set aside the creation of Thralls, those condemned of serious crimes now lose their heads and then their suffering is over. Our forefathers kept Thralls, but they cannot answer for this. My children, I hope, will live in an isles increasingly free of Thralls. My children, I hope, might live to see its end. A war fomented by others beyond the isles, triggered by others in the Compact. And if you think my cousin imperfect in her efforts to save the lives of Thralls, and provide them freedom? Well. Beat her too it. Free more, save more. As you already do. I'll take some humiliation for a good cause.
What I do want to observe is that the ideal is not the world where we live. The world we live in is imperfect, at times it is just bloody awful and unrelenting hurt. At others it will give moments of joy. Until it wishes to pull those away perhaps. We live in a world of civil war now in the Isles - whether we wish to call it that or pretend otherwise. We have pretended otherwise for so long.
Some houses like Grimhall position themselves to welcome the neutral houses who refuse to recognise Helianthus and the Eurusi are wrong - I do not hold anything or judge them for this, much as I hope that when Thrax does fight Grimhall's influx of neutral parties will not impact on their choices. Indeed, Grimhall remained neutral through much of the Tyde Rebellion, until Donrai offered land and support to get them on side, land which passed to Kennex and helped them become who they are. I do not think any would say Grimhall did anything but choose wisely for its own people there.
Others try to find other paths - Kennex has long embraced a radical new road. One that did not quite start a discussion, unless we are to erase the work and campaigning done by people like Prima Shard, and the Liberators, but which accelerated it onto the main stage. This is a path that some would say is righteous, but which upsets tradition.
And then there is what my cousin has tried to do. Which is find a way to accept what we are, but a way which can deliver - through tradition - a righteous outcome. I have often said that tradition is important, but when a tradition harms you, you cast it aside. We do not use old iron weapons that long since lost their edge simply because our grandfathers used them before. She is willing to pay reavers, give stipends to those freed, so that they will take those people alive and bring them to a place of safety where they can be released, and find a new home or be offered one with us. Yes. It places an economic value on a human life - but that is the world we are in. That value is there. When we paid off Thrall owners for their slaves, we did that. When we take coin as sell swords, we do it as well - that coin is to end another, a taking of a life as surely as slavery if perhaps a much brisker method.
Civil war comes, and it will mean reaving. And there is no viciousness like a war of brother against brother. Look at the attacks that occured as the last civil war lingered on. Families presented to the sea on crosses, younger siblings staked to rocks to drown in the rising tide to the sounds of their family's cries. Look to the taking of Tyde Hall and the death of my aunts, my uncles, my cousins. From their old age beds to their cribs, dead. And those Thralls my family kept as well. Perhaps this isn't the ideal way to stay the hand of the reaver when a hold is taken, but it is /a/ way. One that recognises realities. One that recognises tradition.
For my part, other than these musings that you can ignore or listen to or do whatever you want with, if it shall come to war we will take everything we can and melt it down to pay for my cousin's promise, and any man of mine that kills a Thrall who isn't fighting will join the nobles in being presented to the sea. House Tyde set aside the creation of Thralls, those condemned of serious crimes now lose their heads and then their suffering is over. Our forefathers kept Thralls, but they cannot answer for this. My children, I hope, will live in an isles increasingly free of Thralls. My children, I hope, might live to see its end. A war fomented by others beyond the isles, triggered by others in the Compact. And if you think my cousin imperfect in her efforts to save the lives of Thralls, and provide them freedom? Well. Beat her too it. Free more, save more. As you already do. I'll take some humiliation for a good cause.
Written By Iseulet
June 25, 2020, 11:42 a.m.(7/16/1013 AR)
Addendum to Will:
All of my cats to pass to Prince Sirius.
It is my wish that all 49 of my cats live with him. Please gather them from their various places and place them in his room. Remember, Scholar, he likes the windows shut.
All of my cats to pass to Prince Sirius.
It is my wish that all 49 of my cats live with him. Please gather them from their various places and place them in his room. Remember, Scholar, he likes the windows shut.
Written By Eirene
June 25, 2020, 10:15 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
It's not really a Proclamation kind of thing but there deserves and needs to be public record so...
I name Softest Whisper Anisha as the First Liar to Idris and Iris Malvici, awarding her all rights and responsibilities such a post deserves. This means she can teach my children and visit them as she sees fit to educate them in being Lycene, and also how to have a fuck ton more social graces than I can ever provide. This is above and beyond what my family is teaching them, which I'm sure is plenty since I have no idea how Iris learned the word slinky. (Much as how Lucita has no clue where pond-scum green came from).
I name Softest Whisper Anisha as the First Liar to Idris and Iris Malvici, awarding her all rights and responsibilities such a post deserves. This means she can teach my children and visit them as she sees fit to educate them in being Lycene, and also how to have a fuck ton more social graces than I can ever provide. This is above and beyond what my family is teaching them, which I'm sure is plenty since I have no idea how Iris learned the word slinky. (Much as how Lucita has no clue where pond-scum green came from).
Written By Shard
June 25, 2020, 5:29 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
Stupid fortune teller bullshit. I can't blame anyone for reading things into it, especially these days, I can only be severely annoyed at the author all over again. Reminds me of something I ran into once; you see the trick, you know the absolute lie, and it still ends up bothering you.
No one is destined to do anything. Especially me.
No one is destined to do anything. Especially me.
Written By Piccola
June 25, 2020, 12:54 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
Some people think they can find satisfaction in good food, fine clothes, lively music, and sexual pleasure; what happens when all these are provided?
Unsatisfied, they realize happiness is not simply having their material needs met. So, they create a system of rewards that go beyond material goods: titles, prestige, status, and political power, all of which are put into a basket known as self-fulfillment. Seeking to possess this by lucre and social pressure, they spend their short lives tiring body and mind to chase after these goals.
And in the end, they can no longer act, feel, or think for themselves; how different is this from the life of a prisoner?
Unsatisfied, they realize happiness is not simply having their material needs met. So, they create a system of rewards that go beyond material goods: titles, prestige, status, and political power, all of which are put into a basket known as self-fulfillment. Seeking to possess this by lucre and social pressure, they spend their short lives tiring body and mind to chase after these goals.
And in the end, they can no longer act, feel, or think for themselves; how different is this from the life of a prisoner?
Written By Aconite
June 25, 2020, 12:22 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Orick
An old friend with new ideas. I'm glad he's still around.
Written By Svana
June 25, 2020, 12:11 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
I almost got to spend time with adults tonight. It was fun.
Written By Sirius
June 25, 2020, 12:01 a.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
Relationship Note on Iseulet
I do not love this animal, nor the cat.
If said cat decides to excoriate me again when I reach next for one of my volumes and tomes under the bed I'll have glass shards embedded into the windowsill as a kind of prophylactic measure, for I know that doom-laden feline doesn't come in through the door. He's too smart for that; he knows I'd see him coming.
They disturb the balance of my home, the peace of my sanctuary, one likes to clamber up onto all sorts of shelves and things and walk his 'toebeans' while slick in ink all across my missives, and the other? Other than his irreverent ways of pooping everywhere and being against the prospect of being trained, wants attention. All the time.
I don't have that kind of time,
Take them back, Marquessa.
If said cat decides to excoriate me again when I reach next for one of my volumes and tomes under the bed I'll have glass shards embedded into the windowsill as a kind of prophylactic measure, for I know that doom-laden feline doesn't come in through the door. He's too smart for that; he knows I'd see him coming.
They disturb the balance of my home, the peace of my sanctuary, one likes to clamber up onto all sorts of shelves and things and walk his 'toebeans' while slick in ink all across my missives, and the other? Other than his irreverent ways of pooping everywhere and being against the prospect of being trained, wants attention. All the time.
I don't have that kind of time,
Take them back, Marquessa.
Written By Ysabel
June 24, 2020, 11:06 p.m.(7/15/1013 AR)
I fell asleep in the courtyard while reading a book and woke to the moon far above me and a handful of missives laid beside me. No one must have wanted to disturb me. Maybe. I think I spent an hour just watching the moon. The face in it. Thinking about how it looks back home compared to here. More stars I think, back home. Or out on the water. I suppose I should venture back to Caith and see to the specialists brought in for the shipyard. But first, I'm going to go back and watch the moon and sky some more tonight. Maybe another star will fall and I'll see it this time.
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