29-11-YC123

I was not going to attend the Saint Razhden's Masquerade.  Not because Lunarisse does not host the most wonderful events in New Eden - I have no doubt that even the most popular event-planners and influencers in the Federation must be intolerably jealous of her.  However, a little voice over my shoulder persuaded me to go, and I am so pleased that it did, it was just an enjoyable evening.

Everyone wore such wonderful costumes that it really was like being transported back those many thousands of years to the days before we, or indeed anyone, took to the stars.  There were merchants and warriors, slavers and sailors.  The stories that people told were so imaginative too!  I particularly liked Utari's', which I found very moving and thought-provoking.  Of course, he and Lasairiona won the prize for couple's costume, but then as they have always been, are, and shall always be the absolutely most gorgeous couple, it cannot be unexpected.  Not so say that Lunarisse and Franco could not offer them a close challenge, with Lunarisse so radiant in her pregnancy, but, as usual, the ever modest Directrix disqualifies herself from any competition at an event she herself hosts.

Lilya's costume and story were both so enchanting, based around her home of Nafrivik.  The colours of her clothes really brought out her eyes, and I could not but help remember my feelings toward her.  When she came to speak to me, I honestly thought I would not be able to reply for my emotions.  I do hope she did not think me cold toward her.  Oh, Lilya, I am sorry.  Will you ever forgive me?

A Lady Munory also attended, though I do not know her.  Her costume included a retinue of actual slaves - her own - and her story was focused on slavery also.  There was something about her I did not entirely trust, though I cannot exactly say why.  Perhaps it was her rather probing questions regarding Aldrith and his recent insanity.  I must admit I was somewhat irritated by her statement of equating that fool with we Praetorians, and made sure she now has no mistake in her mind that we are represented by any one, self-interested egotist.  We are one made of many.

Arline was also there, and looked magnificently ferocious as a Khanid warrior of old.  She even had skulls on her belt!  I do hope they were imitation, but knowing Arline, I cannot be certain.  Alas, I did not get to speak to her for she disappeared somewhere during my own story-telling, I think.  I hope she is not unwell, for I know she has been troubled lately.

So, yes, my own story.  I honestly had no idea what to dress as, but inspiration hit me and the story flowed from that.  So long ago, my family was not even noble, nor did we even hold the family name we do now, but still we were scouts and explorers of sorts.  So I dressed as the horse archers of that day would have.  A very plain and simple outfit, as one would need when speed and movement are of such importance, I really did not think anyone would notice, not with the wonderful clothing on display by so many others.  Yet that is how my ancestors dressed, and I hope they looked on me with a degree of pride, for I am proud of them, and never more so as I shared the story of the Athran wild-cat.  It was a deeply special moment, and again it just rather came upon me.  Not even Ishta has heard that story, though of course we all know it, as does anyone in Nakri who descends from that same stock - which is most of us - but we rarely speak of such things with others.  I am glad I shared it.

And apparently both my clothes and my tale were impressive enough that so many people voted for me at the end of the competition that I jointly won.  I still cannot quite believe it now.  People are so kind for what was really such a humble effort.

I stopped at the Chapel of Saint Junip on Oris on the way home.  Perhaps it was a twist of fate that I wore the clothes of my forebears and told their story, for I am bound, like them, to scout ahead into dangerous territory for the army to follow behind soon.  Like them, I go knowing the dangers, but also knowing that there is no question about my having to return.  Knowledge of the land, the seas, the stars ahead, and what may face us, is far more valuable than the life of one person, and so it must be brought back.  

I pray as my ancestors did, for speed, stealth, and good fortune.  And for warm food when I get back.

 22-11-YC123

Doctor Etinger tells me I have a mental health condition that is the cause of my unstable moods and propensity to emotional reactions.  Yet he assures me I am still quite sane and have a strong grip on reality, at least for the most part.  I can only assume, therefore, that I am neither suffering delirium nor some form of dissociative episode and the news that has come to me is quite true.

It is, in fact, Aldrith who has so clearly gone insane.

The sheer blind arrogance of that talentless word-hack.  He should have stuck to his angst-ridden, empty-headed doggerel rather than dare to assume himself worthy of joining the ranks of our pure-blooded nobility! And his walking incubator of a wife is barely much better.  An entire status based upon a few lucky shots.  She stains the memory of Empress Jamyl by supporting this idiocy, not to mention the sacrifice of poor, sweet Alizabeth.

Idiocy?  It is far worse than that - it is treason and betrayal of the worse kind.  To side openly with the Triglavian invaders!  If he were capable of feeling shame he would die from it, and it would do him well to do so, before a worse fate comes.  To insult the losses, the deaths, of countless Imperial subjects like that, and all for what?  A personal vendetta against Elkin?  I have no love for her, but her actions pale in comparison to this!  This madness makes even Nauplius look sane - at least he actually acknowledges who the enemy are.

How dare he, that waste of flesh, try to dictate what is and is not treason!  Does he presume himself higher than even Empress Catiz now?  I pray Lord Sarum sees sense and casts the Newelles out before they do irreparable damage to His Lordship's reputation.  What if people begin to think that those jumped-up petty bourgeois represent all of Lord Sarum's vassals?  What then?  They most certain do not!  My family has ever been loyal to the Sarum Family, has never seen conflict between that loyalty and the Throne.  This is what happens when peasants are elevated to the status of nobles, a status they simply do not have the breeding for.  There is only one meaning of breeding they seem to understand.  She seems to do nothing but.

Oh, but their poor children!  What does the future hold for them now?  Damned through the insanity of their parents.  If Arline is still their guardian, she could do no harm by spiriting them all away to a safer place, a family of proven and unwavering loyalty to the Empire.  I would honestly take them myself, and were Lord Sarum to order it so, I would not hesitate.  I have a mind to petition His Lordship, though I cannot imagine he even knows who we are.  We do not preen and bray in order to be noticed by our betters, quiet and content service is our way.

After all that bitter, cynical, paranoid talk of betrayal by others, he now does this.  Yet now I think of it, it was always how people had betrayed him, not the Empire, not the Empress.  Always him.  The warning signs were there then, the conceit, the arrogance.  Say what one may about Elkin, and about the other one - I forget her name - but at least they acted in accordance with a personal, identifiable principle, however mistaken, rather than a selfish vendetta placed higher than loyalty and duty, even to God.

Just another enemy to be crushed, another foe of God and Empire to be vanquished and then forgotten like so much dust in the cosmos.

 19-11-YC123

It seems we have a new enemy, and a dangerous one, though not entirely unexpected.  A ghost from Ishta's past, a blood-thirsty animal who shall stop at nothing until he either kills her or drags her back to his lair of heresy and depravity.

Yet this twisted, malignant fool, this Cavalkaitis or however he styles himself, has, as so many have before, gravely underestimated this family.  In his attack on Ishta and her unborn child he has wounded us all, and we do neither forgive nor forget such things.

Ishta is recovering in the Naval Hospital, under guard, but she will be transferred soon to a clinic on the Sarum station.  She was shot in the abdomen, and her body cannot support her child.  However, both still live, and we can make use of the best in vitro techniques available.  Meanwhile, I have already recalled Omega Team.  Operation Snegovschina on Floseswin must now run itself, and there is little more help can be given to the partisans there.  They are armed, have their orders, and I am confident they can cause enough chaos to undermine support for the Matari forces.  We shall soon be doing something similar elsewhere.

I was going to prepare Omega for something else, but that can wait for now.  I must personally undertake some reconnaissance work before that begins anyway, so instead they can start tracking down this animal Blooder.  Alpha Team can assist, and it would be better for Sasha to have a distraction.  A meeting with Security Chief Sokolov and the local media would also be of benefit.  If this man thinks he can hide anywhere in Nakri, he is sorely mistaken - we are a vigilant people for those who do not belong.

We will find him, and he will suffer.

 14-11-YC123

So now Mitara has left us, following her self-absorbed husband.  I should not say I am surprised, but I am not convinced of whatever reasons they may have.  It appears to me that they place their loyalties to Lord Sarum higher than Her Imperial Majesty, and that does not bode well. It is a foolish arrogance, I feel, but the Chapter Master is quite correct.  It is unthinkable that Lord Sarum would demand such a thing, and if anything it potentially damages His Lordship.  It also raises the unsettling suspicions that this may be a wider trend amongst Sarum vassal, but I have assured the Chapter Master that this is most certainly not a clouding of judgement that my family suffers from.  I shall be with the Praetorians, serving God and Her Imperial Majesty until I die.

Speaking of service, the Chapter Master has given me a most important task, for which I shall have to prepare thoroughly.  Our campaign against the Triglavian invaders continues apace, and we have taken the fight, alongside our allies both traditional and those born of convenience, even into the occupied territories.  I am resolve to make every effort in my power to bring back Raravoss and the other Imperial system, but for that to happen we need solid intelligence on enemy numbers and positions.

Plans to prepare the 601st for operations there are already underway, and I myself shall be undertaking some solo reconnaissance very soon.  It may mean I am gone for some time, but I am not only honoured to be asked to do my part, to have my skills put to use, but I am also, I admit, terribly excited to have this opportunity.  It has been a very long time since I did the things I was trained for, that I always longed to do, but it is not just the feeling one has when out there deep in enemy territory, preparing the way for the strikes and battles to come, it is the feeling of returning home again that brings such thrill.

And shall I not have such wonderful things to return to!  Ishta and Sasha shall be married soon, and I would never miss that, but even more joyfully, Ishta shall soon be starting to show, and we shall have all the happiness and wonder that the expectation of a new family member brings.

Truly are we Blessed.