Oaths of Loyalty and the Voice of the People - March 7

Journal Entry: March 7, 2026 

Location: Ar's Station 

Title: Oaths of Loyalty and the Voice of the People

The morning was a sacred one for several women of Ar’s Station. Shania Shiras, her daughter River Rune, and I gathered at the marble antechamber of the Home Stone to formally pledge our loyalty. It was a deeply moving ceremony conducted by my son, Asher. We each renounced our former cities—Teletus for myself, Turmus for Shania, and Skjern for River—and stepped forward to bind ourselves to Ar and its Station.

Following the oaths, we participated in the ritual of touching the soil and water brought from the mother city of Ar. The air was thick with the scent of larma petals and honeyed resin. The moment was briefly interrupted by a woman named Alicia Crow, who spoke cryptically of the Priest-Kings and dismissed the Home Stone as "cold and empty." It was an unsettling encounter, but it did not diminish the pride I felt standing with my new sisters under our shared stone.

In the afternoon, I attended the High Council meeting as the Governor's Scribe. It was a heavy session where I finally delivered the speech I had spent two days preparing. I stood before the Council—Asher, Drusus, Sphere, and Razor—to voice the grave concerns of our citizens regarding safety, leadership visibility, and the transparency of our commerce. I felt the weight of being the only woman's voice in that room, but the importance of the message carried me through.

High Council Meeting Summary:

• Merchant Report: Drusus Amadeus Titus introduced himself as Head Merchant. He provided an extensive list of exports (wines, nectars, Sa-Tarna) and urgent imports (medicinal supplies, specialized fabrics, and weapons).

• Gorean Merchant Association: Drusus confirmed our membership in the GMA. Benefits include capped tariffs at 5%, mutual defense against trade disruption, and bulk negotiation power.

• Diplomacy: Sphere Proto (Head Scribe) is focusing on training Lady Jacquie, our Ambassador. Plans were discussed to visit Olni to strengthen ties and share in upcoming festivals.

• Security Concerns: In response to my speech, Commander Razor acknowledged the thin ranks of the Red Caste. He urged every man in the city to commit to at least one or two hours of martial practice weekly to defend their households until recruitment numbers improve.

• Council Structure: A motion was passed to allow each Head of Caste to bring a "second" to meetings to ensure continuity and broader input, though only the Heads maintain voting rights.

To Do:

• Transcribe the full minutes of the High Council meeting for the Governor's records.

• Work with Sphere to categorize the newly acquired library scrolls before the En'Kara fair.

• Follow up with the shopkeepers about posting active hours as per the citizen request.

• Prepare for the "Ask the Teacher Anything" session scheduled for tomorrow.