November 4, 2026 — Wednesday
Locations: Turmus courtyard and Tea Room; Scribe Caste of Gor meeting hosted by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Magistrate Office vicinity; Turmus Scribe Hall; home.
Times: SLT.
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JOURNAL ENTRY
I woke later than usual this morning and had not even had my blackwine when I found Carola looking at the butcher shop. The hanging carcasses and the blocked entrance to the courtyard are still causing concern. Carola thought the display might at least be moved behind the wooden wall and said she might speak with Selia. I miss how open and inviting that entrance used to feel.
When Kael arrived, Odette was quite determined that her guests should not have to look at the carcasses. Kael agreed that the butcher belonged nearer the docks. There always seems to be something happening in the city, but he asked me to leave what I could to others and make time for our ceremony. November 19 is only a little over two hands away. I agreed.
Ink joined us, and Kael remarked that our little family was together. That was nice. We talked about my appointment, the trial, and the work I enjoy doing. I told him that I wanted the title because I like the work and am here so much. He spoke of the importance of earning one’s place through what one actually does in the city. Ink was encouraging too.
Soon a message reminded me that the Scribe Caste of Gor meeting was about to begin. Ink came with me while Kael went to attend to his own work. I was glad she could accompany me.
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The morning meeting was mostly about what we would like to discuss at future gatherings. Trygg is changing the meetings to once a month, with volunteers choosing a topic and leading a friendly discussion. I suggested companionship, which hardly surprised anyone with mine so close, and invited everyone to our ceremony.
There were several subjects I would enjoy hearing discussed: why knowledge is restricted, what responsibility comes with knowing something, and whether a Scribe should disclose everything. I also asked what first drew people to the Blue Caste and suggested discussing alternate identities and whether they should be disclosed to a city. There should be plenty to talk about in the coming months.
Afterward, I stayed to work on the meeting record before returning. I joked that if I went home first, someone would immediately have something else for me to do. It is easier to finish one thing while it is still before me.
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Back in Turmus, Rhys approached about becoming Merchant Magistrate. He had been told the position was vacant. I explained that Ramius was the Merchant Head and identified him as the Merchant Magistrate, then pointed Rhys toward Carola and the Merchant office. Rhys said he had already spoken with them and was dissatisfied with the response. I agreed to pass his correspondence to the person he had addressed it to.
Later, I joined Cherry and Odette at the Tea Room. The butcher shop had brought us back to the subject of cleanliness. Cherry wanted an initiative concerning sanitation and examinations for the new shopkeepers and their slaves. Odette suggested cooperation between the Physicians and Merchants, along with announcements and scribal help with registration. There were ideas worth following up, though nothing was decided there.
Luella joined us as Cherry was leaving. She is returning to her dances after being ill and described a group dance that would need eight women. I had to explain that when I mentioned planning a companion service, I meant Kael’s and my ceremony. She congratulated me. I told her this would be our third companionship, after 2010 and 2019. I hope this time will work.
Kael stopped briefly too, and I made him green tea. Even a short visit is welcome when we both have things to do.
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The Turmus Scribe meeting filled much of the afternoon. Kelli acknowledged my appointment and said I would continue the clerk work until someone else could take it over. He reminded everyone to bring the legal paperwork to me. Aries also spoke kindly of the work Jessika and I had done as Advocates. It was good to hear our efforts recognized.
Much of the meeting concerned census forms, signatures, and seals. There were useful questions about reviewing documents and having another Scribe handle one’s own paperwork. Kelli wants personal seals made for the Scribes, so that is another task for me.
We are going to try holding the meetings on Wednesdays. That works better for me, though Aries said it was more difficult for him. I hope the trial meetings show whether we can find a regular arrangement that suits most people.
Afterward, I helped Orion and worked with the slave registration records. Then, at last, the evening brought time at home with Kael.
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I showed Kael the invitation and the sign for over our door. He liked the names with the quill, inkpot, and scales, and said kind things about the work I had put into our home. That made me happy. I am working on music too, and I need to return to Ella about decorations.
We confirmed the date and place again: Thursday, November 19, at five, by the Theater Falls. I will begin sending invitations soon. Kael mentioned inviting Wu, whom he knew as Eloise. Once he used that name, I remembered her.
I gave him the links to both meeting records so he could read them when he had time. Two meetings, conversations in between, papers, and ceremony preparations—it had been a full day. Still, I could see that things were coming together. It was lovely to finish by sharing some of that progress with him.
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MEETING / CONVERSATION RECORD
6:02–6:08 a.m. — Courtyard — Carola and Kati
Carola objected to the butcher’s visible display and suggested hanging it on the other side of the wooden wall. I raised the loss of the main entrance into the courtyard. Carola agreed that the central area had become closed and difficult to enter and said she might speak to Selia. Suggestions about another shop location or a screening wall were also made out of character. No move or alteration was agreed.
7:10–7:51 a.m. — Morning gathering — Kael, Kati, Ink, and Odette briefly
Odette said she would not subject guests to the view of the butcher’s carcasses. Kael agreed that a butcher shop should be near the docks and questioned the hygiene of the present arrangement. I explained that it stood between two eating establishments and said there was not yet a protest.
Kael asked me to limit additional work, except cases requiring my attention, so that we could focus on the November 19 ceremony. I agreed. We discussed invitations, William as officiant, and the arrangements still needed. Ink joined us and recalled being present at my promotion. I explained that Kelli had appointed me Assistant Magistrate with the Ubar’s consent. Kael emphasized progressing through service performed in Turmus, and I explained my wish to do work I enjoy and am regularly present to undertake. Ink and I then left for the Scribe Caste of Gor meeting; Kael declined because he had cases to sort.
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8:00–9:02 a.m. — Scribe Caste of Gor meeting — Hosted by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; led by Trygg Tyran
Recorded participants included: Trygg, Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Lady Inga Draegonia, Autumn Krigerand, Bea Lael Usami, Saku, and me. Ink accompanied me. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the host, distinct from Turmus Magistrate Marcus Galbreus.
Meeting frequency and format: Trygg announced a change from fortnightly meetings to the first Wednesday of each month. December would be an exception because of his availability: the next meetings would be December 9 at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. He planned to request volunteers on December 2. The first volunteer for a session could choose the subject and lead it. The intention was friendly discussion of scribal or wider Gorean subjects from a Scribe’s perspective, rather than formal presentations or debates. Suggested topics would form a nonbinding list.
Subjects proposed: I suggested companionship, what first drew people to the Blue Caste, and whether alternate identities should be disclosed to cities. Autumn supported the companionship subject. Marcus proposed restrictions on knowledge, responsibility arising from knowledge, whether Scribes should reveal everything, and how control of records creates influence. Trygg added control of knowledge and different teachings according to birthright, along with methods of training new Scribes and the balance between in-character and out-of-character instruction. Inga suggested women judging men as Magistrates, apprenticeship, and whether in-character and out-of-character matters can truly be separated.
Alternate identities: Bea said cities flooded with alternate identities could damage story roleplay. Inga questioned how people kept multiple characters separate while operating them together. Trygg said some people appeared able to manage this, though he did not know how. These were discussion points; no disclosure policy was adopted.
Other matters: Saku described herself as a slave presenting as Free and said she had no Home Stone. No status determination was made. Near closing, Bea raised the decrease in Gorean regions. Marcus acknowledged that some had closed, and Bea agreed to discuss the subject at a later meeting.
Ceremony announcement: I invited those present to our companionship ceremony in Turmus on November 19 at 5:00 p.m. Trygg and Marcus offered congratulations.
Afterward, 9:05–9:16 a.m.: Remained to prepare the meeting record before leaving.
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10:35–10:51 a.m. — Magistrate Office vicinity — Rhys McTavish and Kati; Roland and household slaves nearby
Rhys said he had been told there was no Merchant Magistrate and wished to fill the role. I identified Ramius as Merchant Magistrate and Head of the Merchant Caste, named Carola as the assistant, and offered directions to the Merchant office. Rhys maintained that the previous holder was unavailable and said Merchant leadership had not seemed interested when he approached them.
A document was received through the Magistrate’s mailbox. I agreed to see that it reached its addressee. This was assistance with routing his request; no appointment or confirmation of a vacancy was made.
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12:36–1:25 p.m. — Tea Room — Cherry Audax, Odette, and Kati
Cherry proposed a cleanliness initiative through the Free Women’s society and an Ubar’s decree, explaining that city sanitation was a Physician responsibility but a large task. She expressed concern about new food businesses and said many new shopkeepers, and possibly their slaves, had not appeared for examinations.
Odette suggested that the Physician Head speak with the Merchant Head. She also suggested a town-crier announcement and described another city where a Scribe coordinated slave registration, which required current examinations. Cherry agreed that scribal assistance would help and said she would speak with Lib.
When asked about available Scribes, I said I had not checked their numbers. I explained that I handled the Magistrates’ paperwork and named Aneesh Teardrop and Sphere Proto in connection with scribal records. Cherry asked whether Sphere was the filing clerk; no further answer is recorded in that exchange. No decree, compulsory examination scheme, or new scribal assignment was enacted during the conversation.
1:23–1:57 p.m. — Tea Room — Luella and Kati; Kael briefly
Luella said she was resuming dance work after illness and preparing a second group dance for the Women’s Circle, requiring eight dancers. I explained that trial work and ceremony preparations had limited my involvement in the Circle’s planning. After clarifying that my “companion service” meant our ceremony, I told her Kael and I had companioned in 2010 and 2019 and would do so again on November 19. She congratulated me. Kael visited briefly and requested green tea, which I prepared.
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2:55–4:10 p.m. — Turmus Scribe meeting — Scribe Hall
Recorded participants included: Kelli, Aries, Kati, Trent Victus, Jessika Roberts, Lilly, Dexter Winters, and Orion Al-Najm, with slaves attending.
Regular schedule: Kelli wanted a dependable meeting day and said Aries could lead when he was unavailable. Later, Orion requested Wednesdays because Tuesdays were difficult for him. Trent and I supported Wednesday; Jessika could attend either day. Aries said Wednesday was worse for him but he would try to make it work. Kelli agreed to test a couple of Wednesday meetings before deciding whether to retain the change. Times might need adjustment around city events.
Festival and census: Kelli said the festival had gone well, with remaining disputes being handled by the Ubarate and excluded from discussion. Census collection must continue as new residents arrived, with copies going to Sphere or me for filing. Aries said some forms had been submitted but festival preparations had slowed progress. He clarified that “returned” meant received from citizens, not rejected. Kelli emphasized accurate household counts, particularly for identifying missing or kidnapped people after raids.
Appointment and clerk duties: Kelli explained the Assistant Magistrate title and congratulated me. He said I had demonstrated capability but the Ubar wished me to wait longer before becoming a full Magistrate. I would continue as Legal Clerk until a suitable replacement was found. All legal paperwork should continue to come to me.
Trial forms and access: Kelli directed those involved in trials to obtain the completion forms and guidance from me. Jessika asked whether we should complete the new form for the trial we had just finished; he said yes. He also identified the small scroll-case box in the Magistrate Office as the source of legal forms.
Required signatures and seals: Trial completion paperwork must bear the presiding Magistrate’s signature. Kelli required the preparing and filing Scribes’ seals on official paperwork. He said incomplete papers would be returned for correction. In answer to Lilly, he permitted a generic Scribe seal until a personal one was available and required reviewers to sign and seal documents as reviewed. He explained that a previous ownership claim supported by signatures without seals had raised forgery concerns and said the requirement came from the High Council. He assigned me to make personal seals for the Scribes.
Personal paperwork: Orion asked whether he had correctly left his own slave-registration form’s final section for another Scribe. Kelli confirmed that personal paperwork should receive another Scribe’s approval rather than self-approval. He recommended giving it directly to another Scribe or requesting a completed no-modify copy when submitting it. I said I preferred forms to reach me unsealed so I could sign, seal, file, and return copies where appropriate.
Aries’s remarks: Aries commended the caste’s work, particularly Jessika’s and my trial representation. He urged Scribes to be proactive with new residents and slaves and ensure their paperwork and census forms were completed.
Banner: Dexter reported the missing Scribe banner. Kelli said it was a builder omission and he would attend to it.
Roland matter: Dexter asked about a court date or progress concerning the incident involving Roland. Kelli repeatedly stated that the matter was with the Ubar and administrators, outside the legal team’s hands for the present, and was not to be discussed further until resolved, including by slaves. Dexter said he would pass that on. No hearing date or finding was given.
Closing contributions: Jessika thanked Kelli for presiding over the recent trial and praised his judgment. Dexter announced that he had graduated from Advocate class on Sunday and received a certificate; members congratulated him. Jessika planned another newspaper within the coming week and invited contributions.
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4:12–4:25 p.m. — Records assistance — Orion, Nyx, and Kati
Assisted Orion after the meeting; he and Nyx thanked me. A sealed private slave registration for Nyx appeared in the records interface. I also retrieved and worked with the sealed registration concerning Ink, listed under Angel Ely. These actions concerned registration records, not a transfer of ownership.
7:40–8:17 p.m. — Home — Kael and Kati
Showed Kael the door sign and invitation and told him I was working on music. Shared links to the two meeting records. Confirmed the ceremony for Thursday, November 19, at 5:00 p.m. SLT, by the Theater Falls. I planned to send invitations soon and follow up with Ella about decorations.
Kael mentioned inviting Wu and explained that he knew her as Eloise, whom I remembered. We discussed the distinction between her avatars. He praised the sign, including the names, quill, inkpot, and scales, and the work I had put into organizing our home and celebration. We said goodnight after he said he needed sleep.
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TO DO / FOLLOW-UP
☐ Make personal seals for the Turmus Scribes as requested by Kelli.
☐ Continue receiving, reviewing, sealing, and filing legal documents and census forms under the stated procedures.
☐ Ensure my own personal paperwork receives another Scribe’s review where required.
☐ Confirm Rhys’s correspondence reaches its intended recipient.
☐ Attend the trial Wednesday Scribe meetings and watch for confirmed times.
☐ Follow up with Ella about ceremony decorations.
☐ Continue music preparations and begin distributing invitations.
Previously marked complete: Nadia–Edward trial comments, final seal and filing; arrangements for Nadia’s separate case; asking William to officiate; corrected class schedule to Selia; Warrior lesson corrections.
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