I've lived far beyond my father's years.
He'd never believe where our people are now.
He never imagined our people would have their own realm.
Here we are, home to some of the largest towns in the Empire.
Acholm, our jewel, has become a center for trade, culture, and education.
During this prosperous time, I still find things to be concerned about.
My oldest son and heir has no wife, and no son. I have urged him to remarry, but he refuses. He refuses to even visit me across the river anymore. I blame myself for his reclusiveness - how could I have not noticed his descent into fundamentalism?
Cerdic could take over instead when I pass - but how? If I declare him the heir, the realm will certainly fall into civil war. Fundamentalism has taken hold here in Acholm, as well as Merscafen, Wiccaweald, Frithengest, Beorcfeld, and parts of the North. Even still, many of the Thanes even in these areas are resistant to giving the Order more power. I've come to doubt that the very order I'm the Grand Master of even deserves to be apart of the governance of this realm anymore. The future of the Order certainly doesn't give me hope that it does, however, I'm certain it will do whatever it can to retain control.
I fear that the spirits of nature can not prevent the coming storm.