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srwug_alpha_rp2013-01-15 03:55 am
whats_a_paladin) wrote in srwug_alpha_rp2013-01-15 03:55 am
Entry tags:
Level 3
[1] I've been wondering about something.
The Tome of Wisdom is my most important possession. It describes the eight Virtues of the way of Paragon. Understanding those Virtues and mastering them leads to enlightenment. Anyone can follow the way, but there is a catch - the Tome is written in an unknown language. Only those who are unhappy with their current state of being, those who seek improvement and guidance, can understand what the words mean.
Anyone interested in trying to read the Tome of Wisdom? You could think of it as a challenge, or maybe a way to find something new about yourself.
[2] [Raynor is busy working on the damages to the Paragon, and while he's doing so, he's listening to another power metal song. But this time, he's doing so on headphones. As a side effect, he's humming it to himself.
If you can call that humming. Not only is it pretty loud, but it's absolutely wretched. His sense of rhythm is awful so it sounds nothing like the original song, and every other note is either missing or a false one. His attempts at lyrics sound like unholy screeching more than his normal voice, and individual words are almost impossible to decipher.
Stop this travesty?]
The Tome of Wisdom is my most important possession. It describes the eight Virtues of the way of Paragon. Understanding those Virtues and mastering them leads to enlightenment. Anyone can follow the way, but there is a catch - the Tome is written in an unknown language. Only those who are unhappy with their current state of being, those who seek improvement and guidance, can understand what the words mean.
Anyone interested in trying to read the Tome of Wisdom? You could think of it as a challenge, or maybe a way to find something new about yourself.
[2] [Raynor is busy working on the damages to the Paragon, and while he's doing so, he's listening to another power metal song. But this time, he's doing so on headphones. As a side effect, he's humming it to himself.
If you can call that humming. Not only is it pretty loud, but it's absolutely wretched. His sense of rhythm is awful so it sounds nothing like the original song, and every other note is either missing or a false one. His attempts at lyrics sound like unholy screeching more than his normal voice, and individual words are almost impossible to decipher.
Stop this travesty?]
1
"The Remembrance and the Codes the Founder lay out already guide my life perfectly. As long as I follow their tenants diligently, I face no doubt..." Matthew says loftily, copy of the Remembrance in hand.
His eyes idly glance at the pages of the Tome.
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Yet still, you're looking at the Tome's pages. Can you read any of it?
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Matthew's voice trails off as a he takes a gander at the book.
"Huh."
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[The Tome is open at the prologue for now, the gist of which is now going to be shamelessly copy-pasted!
Each virtue is a combination of some of the primary principles: truth, love, and courage. Valor is pure courage, Honesty is pure truth, compassion is pure love. Honor is courage and truth together, justice is love and truth, and sacrifice is courage and love. Spirituality is all three together, while humility is the lack of either, but without any of the accompanying vices. Rather than a set of strict rules, each virtue is a guideline - something you have to understand on your own and then follow in spirit, not in letter.]
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"This book is defective if it is attempting to show it's contents to a trueborn mechwarrior..."
He trails off, a pensive look on his face.
Courage and truth. He has both of those, quiaff?
"Honor. Is there a section that delves more deeply into honor?"
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Each of the virtues has its own chapter, and honor is no exception. I'll be interested in seeing what the Remembrance says on the topic, later.
[Raynor flips the page to the appropriate chapter.
Honor is a virtue that has many faces, but its most important one is to treat others in a fair and respectful way. Taking unfair advantage of someone's misfortune or misinformation, and acting towards them in an undeservingly rude manner are both behaviours that go against the principle of honor. Honorable individuals seek to be dependable, stay true to their word and uphold any contracts they enter. In battle, they respect the rules of engagement agreed upon by both sides, but attempts to outsmart the opponent within the rules are not against the virtue. Honor does not force you to act foolishly.
Those who master the virtue of honor combine the strength of valor and the wisdom of honesty, using these qualities in harmony with each other, rather than just one at a time.]
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He chuckles.
"Perhaps Star Captain Resnick could learn more about honor from this."
[Since he's one rude fellow indeed at times.]
He frowns.
"The lynchpin of honor is valor and honesty...this makes much sense. But how do you determine the truth according to this system?"
He falls silent for a moment. Then he quotes the Remembrance in a rolling lilt:
"Therefore the youngest of them all stood up,
and with a voice like amber wine she spoke:
"Great sir, now all is clear and seeming well,
yet still there is but one remaining problem;
My children, sir, they as of yet unborn,
shall never hear your words so pure and grand."
"You see", the great one spoke aloud, "It is
your humble kin for whom I write this book.
It is the Law, our honor bound in hide."
"That is how our own Tome came to be." He says quietly. "But which hand scribed this, I wonder?"
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The author of the Tome of Wisdom... Is a big mystery. I'm not entirely sure who wrote it, when, and in what circumstances. All I know is that it was a very long time ago.
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"So truth is not a goal, but a journey, a quality one keeps seeking out..."
A thought occurs to him.
"Have you tried taking it to the scientist caste? They could try carbon dating it, quiaff?"
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Earth doesn't have a caste system, by the way. Well, most of Earth.
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"I knew that."
He did not.
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Want to read more of the Tome? I'd like to borrow your book later but I can't do the same with mine, since I need it to power the Paragon.
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He hands it over. "Keep it for as long as you feel like. In the meantime..."
He pages through the Tome.
"I will conclude my reading for today by examining the concept of truth in more detail."
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[And here's Honesty:
Honesty is the virtue of pure truth. It teaches that only truth, not falsehood, leads to wisdom. Honest people do not obscure the truth or lie lightly, and do so only if there's no better way of preventing something bad from happening. Another important part of honesty is speaking your mind, showing how you really feel about matters. Two-facedness, telling everyone what they want to hear just to get on their good side, is the opposite of honesty.
Those who master the virtue of honesty are granted great wisdom and insight. From all virtues, it is the one most associated with thought.]
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Then he closes the Tome of Wisdom and hands it back to Raynor.
"Thank you for allowing me to look at this...Trothkin."
He hesitates for a moment. Should he, or shouldn't he?
He considers what the Tome said about honesty.
"What is your opinion of the Crusader Clans and their imminent conquest of Terra?"
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Matthew opens his mouth, then closes it. He thinks to himself for a moment.
"...but Terra is just one planet. Jade Falcon's entire Touman was able to conquer over a hundred world in their invasion of the Inner Sphere! And the Earth Sphere is not even united–"
His voice trails off as he remembers Joshua Radcliffe's words on this account.
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This planet went through hell for the last 15 years, but its people still survive. Ever heard the phrase "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? I don't agree with Nietzsche's philosophy, but I think here he might be right.
...It's true we're not united. If we were, all the outside threats would probably be dealth with by now. Instead, countless lives are lost in pointless wars. I've seen it myself, 4 years ago.
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He falls silent.
"What did you see 4 years ago?" He asks more quietly.
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I was only a civilian back then. All I could do was watch those atrocities in horror. And hope I'm not next.
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"I have hear of this conflict. I have seen the scars from it upon Terra."
He raises up his hands.
"You are a Paragon, Raynor Joz. A Champion of Justice. You fight evil in the believe that righteousness should, and shall always defeat evil and avarice. So why? Why would you believe that the Crusader Clan's justice will fail when pitted against the governments that perpetrated these atrocities?"
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*CoughClanSmokeJaguarCough*
"We are warriors who fight with precision and honor, only fighting those who choose to fight, limiting the damage we do, restoring peace and order afterwards! That is our Justice!
So would not the stewardship of our Clans over Terra, after a brief war, be better than a century more of this corruption and exploitation?"
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Are you saying that the Clans are free from corruption? I find that hard to believe. No society is. Not a free one, anyway.
If the Crusader Clans really had the good of Earth in mind, they would come here to help us fight external threats, not to conquer.
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Matthew wants to open his mouth to say that the Clans are free of corruption and politicking, and power-mongering.
Despite the powers games that cast a shadow over all the clans during the invasion of the Inner Sphere. Despite the disagreements and accusations that led to the Refusal War.
He wants to say that the the Crusader Clans are without stain.
But the Virtue of Honor...stems from courage and truth.
"So you think we should do nothing? Act as a defense force to Terra while schemers and ruthless men plot behind our backs, with no one to stop them?"
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