Last night at 'Dome was just horrific. Everyone was fighting. First Mumphra and Chas. Then Nun came in and it wasnt long til he and Val got into it. What started out as exchanging words turned into a fight. Nun told Val i was his once and would be again. Those two fights werent bad enough. Then you get Dan, Mags, Thia and everyone else in the fight with Mumphra. I was just standing there, The -only- sane one for a change and not fighting. I tried to get Val and Nun to stop fighting but neither would listen. Least they werent fighting with weapons so I wasnt to worried. It was just very aggravating. Should I feel privileged that it started over me? Well, i dont really. I ended up going home feeling quite ill.

As far as Char..well Val and i had a little talk about that. He says -she- was flirting with him but he wasnt flirting back. Hmmmmm Well I will just have to keep an eye on her. I dont like barfly wenches screwing around with anyone Im seeing. These women just never learn who to mess with and who to leave the hell alone. She must be dumber than she looks, if she thinks i wont kill her. BUT I abided by his wish to not say anything to her......this time. I wont let that stop me if she persists. "smirks" He had to leave for a few minutes and Char came in. I wanted to say something and had to bite my damn tongue to keep quiet.

The only difference between a dock whore and a 'lady' is a whore gets paid for what they do and a lady hides behind that little title of 'lady' and gives it away. It doesnt make them any better than a whore, it doesnt matter if they do it for pay or for free. And yet these same people want to point fingers at me. Bah!.. I dont claim to be a lady to hide what I do. I have no reason to hide, I never have and i wont start now.

It seems Nun and Val both walked her home the other night. Kinda weird since she makes it home every other night without an escort. Eh well, a 'lady' uses any excuse to get a man to go home with her. All under the helpless little maiden that is afraid and cant defend herself. Men are so blind and stupid.

I may be blond but im far from stupid. And i dont pretend im helpless to get a man into my bed. I dont have to resort to childish games.

"she shoves the journal aside and rises to get dressed and check in at the Boutique"

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Vixen

*Ara looks quietly through the handful of pages she's filled, sketches of the seaside, dream interpretations, poems about Sylver, hue washes of Sylver...She smiles gently finding the page where the two sections of pages meet- thus leaving a sizeable gap where she leaves her Owl pen, and brings it out, dipping it into her pot of silver ink she moves it across the paper thoughtfully..*

So here were are
no special day in particular
in no specific month, nor lunar phase
perhaps something deeper
stronger
more firmly rooted in this Bardess' soul...
I'm not sure many people can say they've found
themselves in a whole lifetime of searching.
That, has already been done.
I know that not one person in a million
has found true love, and has been certain of it
staring them straight in the face
both before and after they've met them.
Of course, this has been done too..
A whole extrapolated line of ambitions and dreams accomplished
save one.
And maybe
just maybe
today is the day
that I've been certain of this..
no place anywhere has been a home as this has been home..
my feet have never anywhere felt safe and secure in any place
save this place
(even if it is one gallant theatre act)
no one anywhere has quenched my thirst, nor stoked the flame of my soul, nor completed me as a being
the way my husband has...
and I've never ever been truly happy.

Here, in this paradise, among these friends, with this Love, I feel I am content, happy, and I don't believe I shall ever be able to say such things anywhere else in the world..

*smiling she traces Brigid's cross on the bottom with the feather tip of the quill, her eyes bright and rises to go check on Sylver.*

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Arachne

:::sits beside the small forge in her Shoppe, journal opened in her lap, as she tries to come up with new designs for her jewelry, taking a moment to write:::

What's wrong with everyone? Is it the seasonal change? Why is it everyone cant control themselves any better than they do? Im not saying Im perfect...Im far from it. Ive never claimed to be perfect, hell, Im not even a 'Lady'. I dont try to hide it.

Seriously, all these people taking their own lives. I cant understand that, what is more precious than life? The chance to see what comes of everything you are, and possibly everything you will ever be? Ive lived a long time, compared to some. Perhaps that is why my views are so different. Who knows, I dont.

I miss Ali...:::sighs::: I miss hearing her in her own suite down from mine. The children miss her too. Lia, Im worried about her, I know that she understands more than anyone thinks she could. But, how will we tell her exactly what's happened to Paul and Ali? I dont know how to tell her that they arent coming back.

Just a few days ago Ali had sent me flowers, saying how I was always in her corner. Was I? Was I really all that great of a friend to her? Obviously not, not if she could take her own life without talking to me first. Even giving me the opportunity to try and help her.

I havent seen Uncle Alterio much, though, I hear him on ocassion in the study. I want to be able to help him through this, but, I dont know how. I dont know what to say to him. I dont even know if I should say anything to him.

Im not even sure he wants anyone around him.

I feel so useless at times like these. I dont know what to do, or say. All I can do is get up, bathe, dress, and go to the Shoppe to work. Stop by the dome long enough to see what's happening, go home to the Manor, and sit. Bathe, dress for sleep, and sleep. I dont even feel the need to eat. Nothing is appetizing. I dont want anything.

:::::shakes her head lightly as she rereads what she's written::::

Oh, well, time to drag my mind from all this. Ive got work to do if I want this Shoppe to catch anyone's eyes.

~Lyrias~

::::she leaves the journal open, sitting it off on a work table, returning her mind to her work:::::

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Lyrias

My, tis been some time since i have had an opportunity for myself. So much is going on, and I swear I nae have time to breath, let alone sit and sort out my own thoughts.

Where to start, lets see..Ah, yes, my home. Its comming along nicely now, I have my room furnished, and am continplating what type of furninshings to purchase for the extra 2 rooms downstairs. I feel quite comfortable with it, and my ablility to maintain it now, as i was a bit concerned previously. Now I love it, and the view from the balcony is simply exquisit.

Which brings me to other news..My dear friend Rosalyn seems to have finally found herself some male companionship in M'lord Attrei. He seems quite gentle when it comes to her, and I'm ever so glad, though one can never be too sure what anyones intentions are...for now it seems to be what they both want, for that I am extreemley happy. She just bought that home of hers and I fear she was feeling a a bit lonely. Mayhap Attrei will be a blessing for her. We shall see.

*pausing and reaching for her wine, staring over the beautiful view of the ocean*

OH, mayhap one of the biggest suprizes of late is that Ana seems to be curious as to me!! Can ye believe it, she has asked of me around the dome, and actually spoke to Ros, in a civil tone none the less!! Seems she was inquiring as to who i was in more detail. Ros said she did seem ever so interested. I guess i was just comming to the dome, whence Ana was departing, as suddenly something was thrust into my hand by her, I turned to look around and saw that it indeed was Ana, yet she passed me so quickly i had not a moment to speak to her.

When i looked at what she had given me, i found it to be a book, a small green, leather book, with three handprints upon the front. The funny thing of this is that I could nae open this blasted thing, no matter how hard I tried. Even Ros, and M'lord Eyas could nae open it. It was sealed shut as though thru some sort of magic. Upon closer examination, my friends found that it had a sort of rip in the binding, a moon shaped rip, and 4 lines of symbols below that.

After much deleberation, we all came to the conclusion that the rip in the binding was the exact size of my stone amulet. Thus i placed it in rip, and while it was a perfect fit, it still nae opened the book. I tried, at M'lord Eyas suggestion, placing my hand upon the cover, within the print there, and the book still nae opened. I was ever so frustrated. However later that eve, after I had given up, M'lord Halfdan came to the dome with Lady Mags. I showed them to book, and they both seemed quite concerned with the symbols upon the binding. As the eve passed, and with their help I slowly begain to recall what those symbols ment, They were an ancient symbolic language from my home land, and though it took all eveing, We eventually came up with most of the interpretation....

Heart of Stone
Torn in two
Clemont Shall Prove
something...none...something...something

that last line is what has me baffled..As i only know the symbol, means the word "none". The rest remains a mystery. I do so hope to figure this out soon, as it is quite perplexing.

*redipps her quill, suprizing herself with just how much has gone on of late, and how little time she has had to write*

Alas,I have added more to my busy work schedule, I have actually attempted to try my hand at writing. Can ye belive it, I have wrote the upcomming addition of the advice column in the sandpaper. *laughs to herself* Honestly, i wish they nae would have announced the next upcomming columnist,as I was flooded with tons of rather "unpleasent" questions from the locals. I do swear, they find out someone such as I is to host the column, and they come up with some of the most unflattering, and rather perverse questions one could imagine. Seems to me that the "undesirables" came out from under the docs just to send me these letters. Yet i answered them the best I could, though some did give me moment to pause.

Lets see what else has happened since i last wrote..Oh, in addition to work, home, and my writing endevors..I have recently been recruiting for the guild. Seems that untill I came upon it,it was quite inactive. I had felt rather alone of late, and decided i should start to branch out a bit, seeing as i have decided to make this my new home, seemed only right that I find others of like mind.

There is so much evil lurking about, even upon an isle such as this, that I thought mayhap the guild could help offer some "peace" within this "turbulent" time. So I set off to find those I felt would be fitting for just such a guild. Alas tis a tedious endevor, I have spent many an evening at the dome, just sitting and watching those about, learning of their behavior, and their attributes. I wish nae to make hasty decisions upon this, as any considered must be of a caring breed, and nae wish to use thier mage abilites at the drop of a hat! They must posess a "reserve" about them, and only use their gift in the assistance of others. Nae to instagate trouble. To many of my kind have lost their heads whence their magic becomes stronger, they feel they must display such at any given time, to prove to others just how "powerful" they truley are.

This is nae what the guild is for. I wish to only find those "true" to the age old belief that we are to use our gifts for good, and to only assist those in need. Or ONLY if need be to defend ourself against those who wish to harm us. Unfortunately, for to many, whence their abilities increase, their wisdome in using them, remain the same.

I do believe however I have found one of such nature. M'lord Val. I have watched him for quite some time as of late, and have found him to be what i would consider, "true to his race". While the man does have some rather strictly "male" attributes, such as betting upon the outcome of fights, That is nae my concern whence it comes to the guild. What he does in his spare time is his to contend with. I have witnessed a genuine although sometimes hidden, concern with his fellow patrons, and friends. He does nae use his magic to prove his power, yet to help those when it does seem as all would be lost without it.

I have spoken to him of the guild, and he has accepted. His application was recieved and approved, and his name is now added to the roster. He also has informed me that he has knowledge of yet another who may benifit us in joining. I have requested that he bring me the proper information upon this individual, and that he remain silent upon this issue untill we can be sure that this new individual is worthy. I feel he will honor my request. I do believe i have made a good choice in M'lord Val, and if all goes well I just may concider allowing him to do the recruiting in the future, I feel he would be good at it, I shall assist of course, yet 4 eyes are better then 2, and if we wish for the guild to grow, we must begin to actively pursue. I have much going on of late, and although i do hate to admit such, I feel that mayhap joining this guild will be better recieved if it is offered from a man, at least in the beginning, M'lord Val himself seemed quite suprized that I, of all people approached him with it.

Funny, how many here think I such a lady that i nae have any secrets about me, granted they are nae evil ones, yet still many just assume that being a "noble born" female, means a plain and simple dowdey life....I supose that is because thats all i let them see. And quite frankly, between you and I dear journal, I rather prefer it that way for now.......for now.

Charquin

*Laughs seeing how much she has written, and allowing the journal to dry, sets out to the ocean, for a relaxing peaceful swim*

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Lady Charquin

Is nothing sacred? Not blood. She runs to one not her blood. She runs to one not even related to him she now calls "Father". And for what? It is not divulged. I mean nothing to her. There is no trust here. A sister she will not speak to. Does she wish to? Does she lament the distance as I do? It seems not. She has returned at least. But only for her "father", for her own misery. The one she called "aunt" has perished at her own hand. Did she suffer when her own brother was slain? It's wicked. It's wrong. Sweet sister, what has been done to you?

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Felina of Lyndette

*dips his quill and begins to write, precisely, neatly.*

It is done, the Pariah is dead by his own hand. They call me the Master Harper, but I don't really have the right words for this. A great blight has been lifted from this Isle, that much is true. I sought only to prove him subject to law, striking to subdue not to kill, but he took matters into his own hand; and is dead rather than arrested.

I hope his passing brings some measure of peace to this isle. I know that I have no regrets that the Obscenity is gone, though 'twas not how I wished his passing. Halfdan the Black, Master Harper of these Isles.

*sands the vellum and leaves it to dry*

--Journal Entry, 23 November, Halfdan