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Faith: Triad of Concepts

Posted by Orazio on 04/10/17
To the Faithful of Arvum:

As Legate of Concepts, I stand unreservedly with the Most Holy in the condemnation of the actions undertaken by House Thrax: the desecration of bodies, the murder of the innocent, the butchery of tens of thousands by induced plague. As Legate of Concepts, it is my duty and my calling to guide the doctrine of the Faith based on what is known and understood of the Triad of Concepts. Thus, allow me to speak on that subject:

It is wholly against the doctrine of Gild, gentle goddess of Civilization, to slaughter and torture as the Thrax navy, led by Prince Abbas Thrax, has done. These actions fly in the face of everything the goddess stands for, and no amount of smiling charity in public or in Arx will erase the truth of what is done where and when none fear repercussions.

When contemplating the Sentinel, I must concede that there is no law against the slaughter undertaken or the deliberate use of plague to weaken and murder villages of people. It is the way of the Compact that lords rule in their territories by fiat, and are answerable only to their direct liege for most actions. Prince Victus has not seen fit to intervene or condemn the actions of his vassal, and thus we must assume that he approves. This is legal. However, the Sentinel is not simply the god of law, it is the god of truth and justice. To decimate lands through deception and torture is not, and could never be, just. More, it is to be wondered if the practice of thralldom has indoctrinated the Thrax and their vassals to view people as ultimately expendable livestock to be culled at will. Let this stand as a warning to all the Compact of the dangers of slavery and the corruption it wreaks on the soul, the people, and the land. Know that judgement awaits for the perpetrators, and those who turn a blind eye to it.

Finally, upon the doctrine of Limerance, it is without a doubt that these actions are the result of breaking and devaluing the bonds of fidelity between liege and vassal, lord and subject. Many consider the power of the nobility; few consider the responsibility. The Houses should shepherd and protect their subjects, and rule through respect and honor, not fear, torture, and the invocation of plague. While it is no sin to go to war, nor to kill the enemies of your people, to butcher whole villages on mere presumption of contamination is wholly anathema. A Shav'arvani, while heathen and lost to the Compact, is still human, and deserving of basic human dignity.

We stand against great and terrible enemies, to be sure. But we can defeat them without embracing the corruption of the soul, or the techniques of our enemies. If we cannot, then ultimately victory is an empty thing, for it will be a victory out of sight of the gods, and as hollow as the spirits of those who win it. I pray that the hearts corrupted by fear and rage may be humbled before the gods and seek redemption through action to right these terrible wrongs.

By my hand and authority,
Father Orazio, Legate of Concepts, Shield of the Faith