Blackwine, Warrior Codes, and a Quiet Classroom

November 3, 2026 — Tuesday
Blackwine, Questions, and Warrior Codes
Locations: Tea Room and courtyard; Educational Hall; Magistrate Office mailbox; Capture the Flag grounds in Shades of Turmus.
Times: SLT.
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JOURNAL ENTRY
Odette made blackwine for us early this morning, adding verr milk and a little sugar to mine. I closed my eyes for a moment and enjoyed the smell before drinking. These quiet mornings at the Tea Room are becoming one of my favorite parts of life here. There is time to sit, hear the news, and talk without having to hurry. I told her I wished more of the women would join us.
We talked about the festival. Odette had missed most of it, though she and Luella had attended the slave dances. I told her about the canoe race, sword fighting, carnival, and my success at bull riding. We had differing opinions about some of the dances, although neither of us cared for the tall grass that hid so much of one performance. There were movements I enjoyed in other dances, but I admitted I had been a little distracted during the show. Odette guessed that Kael had something to do with that and said she would attend our ceremony to support me. That was lovely to hear.
I told her about becoming Assistant Magistrate and explained that Aries would teach me the city procedures I still needed to learn. She congratulated me, then said she had a matter she wanted to discuss with a Magistrate privately. As we continued talking, I learned that it concerned the butcher shop’s position beside our courtyard.
I do not like the thought of flies, smells, and slaughter so close to the places where we sit to enjoy our food and drinks. Odette was unhappy too. She said the butcher had assured her that the salted carcasses would not attract flies, although she had already seen and heard one. At least the bucket with the bleeding animal head had been moved. I suggested that a butcher might be better placed near the water, perhaps outside the city. We did not settle anything, and I still need to hear her concern properly in private.
Lucy came to offer service during our conversation. When I asked whom she belonged to, she named Jarl Jake of the Lacum slave house. After she left, Odette explained a little more about the private slave houses and the new families moving into Turmus. There is much to keep up with as the city grows.
Our talk eventually returned to clothing. I admired Odette’s skirt and top, which she said she had made in several colors. When I mentioned the matching blue fabric for Kael’s and my ceremony outfits, she asked whether he would wear robes or I would wear trousers. Silly woman. I had to explain that it was the fabric that matched.
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Before noon, Carola and I had a brief visit. She welcomed the quieter day after the festival but wondered where the newly arrived Merchants had gone. She said no one was shopping or even stopping to say hello. I had no answer for her.
The noon class on The Codes of the Warriors gave us plenty to discuss. Carola, Solthan, and 42 participated, and their questions made me pay attention to how I was presenting the material. Carola asked what I meant by the “old notes” I kept mentioning. I answered that I meant the notes in the books and explained that I was trying to give a fuller account rather than replace what was there. Her question was a useful reminder that what seems clear in my own preparation may not be clear to those listening.
I especially enjoyed the discussion about personal pride and caste honor. Solthan spoke about how an individual’s conduct affects the whole caste, and 42 explained that someone could suffer personal humiliation while still honoring their caste through fulfilling their duties. Later, Solthan offered another useful distinction: in his experience, the Codes were the same, but different cultures interpreted them differently. I acknowledged his point.
The examples brought more conversation. We considered a Warrior insulted while guarding a gate, a captain ordering a retreat, and a stranger in scarlet demanding entry to an arsenal. The last example led us to the difference between wearing caste colors and having authority to command. I like it when a lesson gives people something to examine together rather than simply a scroll to hear.
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After class, I checked the Magistrate Office mailbox. Marcus had left a clear instruction: use version two of his incident report and discard the other. Another detail to keep straight among the papers.
No one came to the afternoon class. Later, Lothar found me near the Educational Hall, lost in thought, and complimented the garden. When he asked about classes, I told him that no one had attended. He said he and his slave had nearly been killed and that the Physicians had kept him for treatment. He also spoke of drinking for several days. I was not sure what to say, other than that it sounded like a hard way to live. He made light of it as tasting his goods and wished me better attendance in the future.
Before heading to Capture the Flag, I worked on the Magistrate Office bell, changing its legal summons to call specifically for a Magistrate. Then I went to the game grounds and greeted those gathering. There was the usual joking while Augustus organized everyone. It was a different sort of noise from a classroom, and a change after the quiet afternoon.
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MEETING / CONVERSATION RECORD
3:58–6:05 a.m. — Tea Room — Odette and Kati; Laela and Lucy present briefly
Festival discussion: Odette said she had missed most festivities but attended the slave dances with Luella. I described attending the canoe race, sword fighting, carnival and bull riding, and dance exhibition. Odette criticized the tall grain obscuring a performance and said dance movements should illustrate the action. I agreed that the obscured performance was not to my taste and questioned the window or doorway used in the rain performance, while noting that I liked some other dancers’ movements. These were personal opinions about the performances.
Appointment and private consultation: I told Odette I was Assistant Magistrate and that Aries would teach me Turmus procedures. She congratulated me and requested a private consultation with a Magistrate. She later identified the butcher shop concern as the matter she wished to discuss away from the public setting. The private consultation did not take place during this exchange.
Butcher shop concern: I questioned the shop’s placement in the walkway to the courtyard and expressed concern about flies and smells. Odette said Selia apparently permitted the location; this was her account, not a permission I independently confirmed. She reported the butcher’s assurance that salted carcasses would not attract flies, said she had seen and heard a fly, and noted that a bucket containing a bleeding animal head had been removed. I suggested a location near the water or outside the city. No relocation, order, or formal finding was agreed.
Household information: Lucy offered service and identified her owner as Jarl Jake of the Lacum slave house. Odette declined service and dismissed her to seek other work. After Lucy referred to the “FC bakery,” Odette said that was not the bakery’s name and explained that Lucy’s master was companioned to the woman running it. Odette also described a second private slave house on the docks, occupying the former empty paga tavern, and said more residents, mostly families, were arriving.
Ceremony and clothing: Odette said she would attend the ceremony in support of me. I described blue outfits with matching fabric as my likely choice unless I found something else. Her teasing about identical clothing led me to clarify that the fabric matched.
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11:41–11:48 a.m. — Conversation with Carola
Carola said her day was slower than the previous one and that she welcomed time to relax. She then asked where the Merchants who had moved in before the festival were, saying no one was shopping or greeting her. I said I did not know. No explanation or action was established.
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12:01–1:03 p.m. — Educational Hall — The Codes of the Warriors
Teacher: Lady Kati Evans. Recorded participants: Carola Aromata, Solthan, and 42.
Scope of instruction: Introduced the second ten-lesson High Caste track, Caste Teachings, Law, and Honor. Presented the Warrior Codes as standards concerning courage, loyalty, duty, discipline, and caste identity, while explaining that the novels do not provide a complete official manual. Distinguished loyalty to the Home Stone from unquestioning loyalty to a ruler, courage from recklessness, and victory from proof of truth or honorable conduct.
Clarification requested by Carola, 12:15–12:18 p.m.: Carola questioned references to “old notes” and asked whether I was offering a new interpretation of the books. I answered that I meant the notes in the books and described my purpose as making the account more complete by adding to it rather than replacing it. She thanked me for clarifying.
Personal pride and caste honor, 12:21–12:25 p.m.: Carola said personal pride was not always caste honor and that caste came before the person. Solthan said caste honor held a higher place because personal conduct affects the reputation of the whole caste. 42 distinguished personal dignity from caste duties, customs, and responsibilities, explaining that someone might feel humiliated yet uphold caste honor by fulfilling obligations. I agreed with the distinction.
Victory and honor, 12:28–12:30 p.m.: Carola said the answer depended on why the contest occurred, and Solthan emphasized its objective. I explained that victory alone did not establish honor; means, purpose, and duty also had to be considered.
Written Codes and interpretation, 12:40–12:47 p.m.: Carola asked whether Warriors in Second Life had written Codes. I answered that they did, that these might vary between cities, and that Warriors did not share them. Solthan qualified this from his own experience: the Codes were the same, but interpretations differed between cultures. Carola thanked him, and I acknowledged his distinction as a good point.
Teaching framework and scenarios, 12:37–12:59 p.m.: Used Allegiance, Duty, Courage, Restraint, and Consequence as lesson questions, explicitly identifying them as a teaching framework rather than a canonical list. For an insult directed at a gate guard, Carola selected restraint. For a captain ordering retreat to avoid encirclement, Solthan selected allegiance or duty through obeying command. Carola initially thought the examples were connected; I clarified that they were separate situations.
For a stranger wearing scarlet who demanded that guards open an arsenal, Carola suggested consequences for the stranger, and Solthan agreed. I emphasized allegiance and the need to know whether the stranger had authority. Solthan stated that scarlet alone did not confer command and that orders must come through recognized authority.
Closing discussion, 12:58–1:01 p.m.: Asked what separated a disciplined Warrior from a merely violent man. Carola offered restraint and duty; Solthan agreed with duty. 42 contrasted anger and intimidation with the strength to use force when necessary and the wisdom to exercise restraint. I concluded that the Codes governed a Warrior’s danger through something greater than impulse. Announced The Scribes: Knowledge, Truth, and the Written Record as the next lesson in this track. Participants offered thanks before leaving.
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1:08 p.m. — Magistrate Office mailbox — Marcus’s instruction
Received Marcus Galbreus’s message: “Please use v2 of my incident report. The other can be discarded.” Receipt of the instruction is recorded; completion of the replacement is not established in this exchange.
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4:26–4:40 p.m. — Educational Hall vicinity — Lothar and Kati
Lothar approached while passing toward the tavern, complimented the garden, and asked whether I was preparing or finishing classes. I told him no one had come. He said he and his slave had nearly been killed and that Physicians had kept him for treatment and explained medicine to him. He also said he had been drinking for days. I responded that it seemed a hard way to live. He joked about needing to taste his goods and wished me better class attendance. No formal complaint, medical assessment, or legal decision resulted from this conversation.
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5:09–5:12 p.m. — Magistrate Office bell
Changed the summons wording from “LEGAL: Legal Member is needed at the Magistrate Office” to “MAGISTRATE: A Magistrate is needed at the Magistrate Office.” Set the displayed text to “Magistrate.” Warrior assistance and all-clear messages remained available.
From 5:18 p.m. — Capture the Flag grounds — Shades of Turmus
Greeted attendees while Augustus organized the game. He directed players to register on the team board, offered explanations and optional voice communication, and reminded female players about the game setting needed for equal damage. Dexter confirmed he would play; Lyrus said he intended to watch. Fyre asked me to change to game mode at 5:37 p.m. The recorded exchange does not establish a personal score or result for me.
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TO DO / FOLLOW-UP
☐ Use Marcus’s version two incident report and discard the superseded copy as instructed.
☐ Arrange a private conversation with Odette about the butcher shop concern.
☐ Review the lesson’s references to “old notes” so their meaning is clearer in future presentations.
☐ Continue preparing Thursday’s Metalworkers lesson.
☐ Continue ceremony arrangements and invitations, including outstanding decorations and music.
Completed today: Noon Warrior Codes class; Magistrate Office bell wording updated.
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Assistant Magistrate at Last

November 2, 2026 — Monday

Assistant Magistrate at Last

Locations: Magistrate Office; Tea Room; Inn; butcher shop; Commander’s garden patio; meeting with the Ubar and Ubara; city streets.

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I am now Assistant Magistrate of Turmus. It feels good to write those words.

Kelli gave me the title this morning with Aries present and asked him to be my mentor. Aries remembered that I have served as a Magistrate before and said he would help me learn how things are done here. I appreciated that. Every city has its own ways, and experience does not mean there is nothing left to learn.

This is something I have wanted for a while. I have been happy to serve as Legal Clerk, but being able to return to judicial work means a great deal to me. There will be responsibilities to learn and questions to ask, and I am ready to begin.

Kelli asked me to continue the clerk work too. I agreed to keep doing it until someone else wants the task. I am here much of the time, and I like having useful work to do. The paperwork certainly will not stop because my title has changed.

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I gave Kelli the draft of the Nadia–Edward trial records. Once he has added his comments and final seal, I should be able to finish them and put the case papers in order. It will be good to have that completed after all the preparation and time spent in court.

Nadia’s separate case will need another Advocate. I expect to be a witness, so I cannot represent her this time. Aries is to find someone, and Sunday at eight in the morning was discussed as a possible hearing time. There are still arrangements to settle before that can be considered final.

Later, Lothar approached Aries with complaints concerning attacks and lost property connected with yesterday’s incident. Aries began listening to his account. I left for a break while they were still speaking, so I did not hear the whole discussion or take a completed complaint myself.

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There was encouraging news about our companionship ceremony as well. Kelli had no objection to Uncle William performing it, provided the Ubar agreed and our contract was properly signed and sealed in Turmus.

This afternoon, Bactu and Selia gave their permission. Now I can ask William whether he will do it. November 19 at five in the afternoon, at the Theater by the falls, with an open house afterward at my house—our house. I am still getting used to that thought, but it makes me smile.

We spoke about decorations and music too. I need to follow up with Ella about decorating and speak with Jay or Bluesaint about the music. There are quite a few things to arrange, even for a celebration meant to feel welcoming and comfortable. Selia also wants the class notices a month at a time, so I need to give her the corrected list.

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Ink brought me honey tea during my break and told me the canning was finished. It was lovely to sit for a little while and enjoy something warm before returning to the day’s business. I am glad she had that work completed.

Later, I met Sylvia Moonwinder, who was looking for the Inn. I showed her the way and pointed out the rooms. Helping someone find a place is a small thing, but being new to a city can be confusing.

I stopped at the butcher shop as well and introduced myself. We spoke about purchases I might make another time. No shopping today, though; there was still more waiting for me.

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Augustus and Ella went over tomorrow’s Warrior lesson with me on the Commander’s garden patio. I was grateful for their time. They caught things that needed attention, including using “Codes” in the plural and being careful about teachings that are private to the caste.

We also discussed allegiance and how to present the material. I want the lesson to be useful without pretending to teach what belongs within the Warrior Caste itself. Having their guidance gives me a better understanding of where to draw that line. Now I need to make the corrections before tomorrow’s classes.

Later in the afternoon, I welcomed Ryan and offered directions. I also spoke briefly with some visiting girls about the kennel lesson before letting them return to their assigned task. The city keeps bringing someone new across my path.

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When Kael came by later, I told him about my new title. He congratulated me and said I had earned it. After such a full day, that was especially nice to hear.

There is plenty left to do, but tonight I am pleased. I have taken another step in serving Turmus, received permission to ask William to perform our ceremony, and had help making tomorrow’s lesson better. A busy day, certainly, but one I will be glad to remember.

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MEETING / CONVERSATION SUMMARY

Kelli and Aries: Appointed Assistant Magistrate, with Aries assigned as mentor. Agreed to continue Legal Clerk duties.

Trial records: Delivered the Nadia–Edward draft for Kelli’s comments and final seal.

Nadia’s separate case: Disclosed my likely role as a witness. Another Advocate is needed; Sunday at 8:00 a.m. SLT was proposed.

Ceremony: Kelli, Bactu, and Selia accepted William as a possible officiant, subject to the required Turmus contract formalities. Ceremony planned for November 19 at 5:00 p.m. SLT.

Warrior lesson: Augustus and Ella advised on terminology, private caste teachings, allegiance, and presentation.

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TO DO / FOLLOW-UP

☐ Obtain Kelli’s comments and final seal on the Nadia–Edward trial records, then complete the filing.

☐ Coordinate with Aries on my training and the arrangements for Nadia’s separate case.

☐ Ask Uncle William whether he will perform our companionship ceremony.

☐ Follow up with Ella about decorations and Jay or Bluesaint about music.

☐ Give Selia the corrected class schedule one month at a time.

☐ Make the lesson corrections discussed with Augustus and Ella before tomorrow’s classes.

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The Last Day of the Festival

November 1, 2026 — Sunday
The Festival’s Last Day

Locations: Carola’s home; Festival Dance Pavilion; gathering with city leadership and visitors from Lara; home.

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I went to see Carola early this morning and met Berchta of the White Larl Trading Company. Before long, we were talking about the way some men behave with their girls in public. Yesterday’s tournament had certainly given us something to discuss. What a man does in his own home is his business, but I do think he should consider the Free Women sitting nearby when he is out in public.

Carola wanted us to think of something that might improve matters, and Berchta felt more women needed to speak up. It was good to hear that I was not the only one troubled by it. We talked for quite a while, though I had to leave before we settled on anything. For now, it remains a conversation rather than a complaint or any formal action.

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This afternoon, I went to the festival’s closing dance exhibition with Kael. After such a busy week, it was nice to sit beside him and enjoy what others had prepared. There were dances I enjoyed, and I joined in the applause for the performers.

Selia said this was Turmus’s third annual Big River Festival and that sixty-five people had attended the exhibition. Quite a gathering! The Ubar and Ubara thanked everyone, and they seemed pleased with how the festival had gone. So much work goes into something like this, much of it done before anyone arrives to enjoy it.

It felt strange to reach the last event after days of activity. There had always seemed to be another place to go or something happening. I was glad to have been part of it, though a quieter day would be welcome too.

Kael and I spent more time together afterward. We have managed quite a bit of time together this weekend, and I have enjoyed that. After so many years apart, simply sitting together and talking means a great deal to me. With our companionship ahead of us, I am glad we are making room for these ordinary moments as well as the arrangements.

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Later, I saw Kreg, Ember, and Adri visiting from Lara. It was good to see familiar faces again. Bactu, Selia, and Marcus were there too, and I listened as the conversation turned to Lara and how things were going there. There was some talk of a possible visit. It is always nice when people from other cities come to spend time with us.

Kael came over as well, and after a little visiting, he offered to escort me home. I said my goodnights and left with him. It was a pleasant way to finish the day and the festival weekend.

Tonight, I am glad for the time we had together. There is still work waiting, and there are preparations to make for the ceremony, but those can have their turn. Today had room for conversation, familiar faces, and time beside Kael. I needed that.

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MEETING / CONVERSATION SUMMARY

• Carola and Berchta: Discussed public behavior toward slaves in the presence of Free Women. Possible ways to raise concerns were considered; no formal action was agreed.

• Festival closing: Attended the dance exhibition with Kael. Selia reported sixty-five attendees and identified this as the third annual Big River Festival.

• Visitors from Lara: Visited with Kreg, Ember, and Adri among city leadership. A possible visit to Lara was discussed, without a firm arrangement.

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TO DO / FOLLOW-UP

• Follow up with Carola and Berchta if they wish to continue the discussion about public consideration for Free Women.

• Continue preparations for Kael’s and my companionship ceremony.

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