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Public News Post #19797

A note.

Written by: Aodfionn Wintermourne, Herald of Redemption
Date: Tuesday, January 19th, 2016
Addressed to: The City of Ashtan


Hail the Dawn, citizens of Ashtan.

As I continue to await response from a respected mind, I find myself pondering over some of your Archon Ascendant's words. A few of his points seem rather odd, so if you would allow me a bit more of your time, I would like to follow up on just a few.

Grandue says that we seek to peddle 'the Lady's truth' (referring to the Lightbringer, I assume) or some 'version' of the truth.

I find this odd, personally, but understandable. So often, we find that words change meaning between cultures. Oftentimes, we mortals - fallible, limited creatures that we are - seem to refer to 'my truth,' or 'your truth,' as if we might hold ownership of this thing. But what *is* truth? Can it be owned? Can it change?

Truth - at least, as is understood by all who embrace the teachings of She Who Is Light - is simply the expression of absolute reality. It's simply the accurate portrayal of that which is!

Now, obviously this only accounts for part of Creation, for mortals - existence is existence, but we are more than simply mirrors of reality. We, as sentient beings, are shaped by our *perception* of reality. From our particular vantage points and bases of foundational knowledge, we are so very much formed and shaped in personality and action by these vantage points of observation. This is perception, or how we interact with and process information. But it is not truth - there is no 'your truth' or 'my truth' or even 'Lady Aurora's truth.'

Now, some truth is pretty easy to suss out without major disagreement. If someone were to bring a mace down on your head with the fury of holy judgment, you would die. Tomorrow morning, the cycle of day and night will begin anew yet again (barring some unforeseen act of Gods). Water is generally necessary to grow plant life. Basic things like this are truth, because they are expressions of absolute reality - they accurately portray that which is.

But other aspects of truth are, admittedly, not so black and white. What are the roots of injustices in this world such as the wide gap between the elites of Ashtan and the residents of Martin's Sorrow? What, if anything, can ensure that we do not face obliteration at the hands of a beast such as the Worldreaver once more? Is it better for mortalkind's future if we hold the needs of the many above the quest for power by a few?

For some, perhaps, these questions have easy answers. For those wise enough to understand their own ignorance in the grand scheme of things, it is more challenging. And so the Lightbringer tells us to be relentless in our pursuit and willingness to embrace truth! Though no mortal will ever live long enough to fully understand all of the intricacies of the universe, we strive for as close to it as we can possibly come. The Bloodsworn encourage us to seek out the fullest understanding of the world around us, with the understanding that we can only truly grow and advance sentient life and Creation as a whole through a solid foundational understanding of sentient life and Creation as a whole.

Now, do not mistake me for some peddler of blind faith or acceptance. Any and all Harbingers, as well as the Lightbringer's Rasul, *must* be able and willing to question everything and seek the answers to the mysteries of life here. So too must we be able to understand that truth itself - because it is simply the expression of a fluid reality - can change over time. Some aspects of Creation may remain now as they ever did, such as some of the cycles of Nature set forth in the earliest times. Others, though, such as the realms of Gods and the powers of political entities throughout the eras, have of course changed.

This last aspect is important. Whereas the God of Darkness says that knowledge should be known only to a view and falsehood be used as a tool through which to wield power, and where Lord Babel's primer text speaks plainly that the priesthood needs to distract the masses from their true aims and beliefs, the Bloodsworn remain confident that any who seek to better understand truth will themselves come to the logical conclusion that Chaos is a dangerous, corruptive, and impure force. That Creation must triumph so that life and Creation might be able to grow and reach its fullest potential. That this triumph is only possible through strident dedication to attaining purity, and the eternal willingness to make any sacrifice to see it done.

These beliefs - truth, growth, purity, and sacrifice - are the core tenets of Their teachings. They shape our language, our culture, our beliefs, our structure, our art... but most importantly, they shape our actions.

Where your Archon Ascendant professes belief in a religion for whom tomorrow is the bringer of destruction, but tells the world to 'just hold on and wait' for a strengthened Ashtan, my people are ready.

Where your Chaos Lords and their lackeys in power scramble over one another in an attempt cling to political power over their mortal kin, we are learning more each day of the strength that can be attained through strict adherence to the teachings of the Bloodsworn.

Where you cry for time, we prepare blades and hospice alike, ready to accept any who may see the folly in your doomed cause as well as cut down any who would deny Creation and mortalkind the chance to seek growth.

May the Light and Fire lead. We shall never fail to follow.



Aodfionn Wintermourne
Herald of Redemption



Penned by my hand on the 23rd of Chronos, in the year 703 AF.


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