"There exists often, within the great tangles of people that call themselves royalty and nobility, those whom have been gifted, whether by birth or by their upbringing, a perspective that is not often found among those who do not routinely find themselves in charge of other human beings.
This perspective, or paradigm if you will, is rarely seen elsewhere with the notable exception of those that serve in great wars and battles.
Neither in the merchant class is it found, though often these find themselves in a superior position to those in their employ.
Neither in the magician class is this seen for their authority comes from personal qualities rather than that given by others.
Neither in the laborer class, for as is readily seen, they have no authority over others except in the realm of the household.
This is proof that only those born in royalty and nobility have the necessary blessings of fate to navigate the treacherous waters of rulership."
- Analects of Lord Stadis, 7th Overseer of Aldor and Duke of Breming-Sohoth
"Lord Stadis was an imbecile of elephantine proportions and his Analects are fit solely for washroom use. All those bearing the scholarly arts clearly demonstrate by personal and intrinsic worth their right of authority, whereas is is well known the nobility seldom show themselves equal to that right.
I would urge the Council to correct this egregious error and remove his work post-haste"
- Excerpt of "Letter from Magian Cleyd to the Council Literate", dated circa 4E 134
"Dear Overseer,
It has come to my attention that my proposed corrections to some certain works in your Library have yet to be put in place. I need not remind you of my family's extensive generosity to your great undertaking at Hartford. To ensure the continued value of my beneficence my intern has gone with this letter to ensure corrections are enacted speedily.
Notably the several Analects of Overseers, the Codex Magistrum, the various correspondences of the faculty of the Council, and of course the Historica Literatura.
Let us not wallow in the ignorance of our forebears my good sir, we have greater insight in this day and age. I wouldn't want to bother my uncle with news regarding your uncooperative attitude so I shall take it in good faith that the will of the Veafald's shall be done.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas"
- Letter from Thomas Veafald of the Veafald Great Naval House to Magian Novis, 32nd Overseer of Aldor, dated circa 4E 1793.
The reader will note, that not even a decade after the aforementioned letter was sent the Brindlestone War erupted between the Great Houses and the Silver Tower, with the results being surely known to the reader. The head of unfortunate sir Thomas decorated the washroom in the Sohoth laborer quarters for a fortnight.
Fate, it seems, makes fools of us all.