| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Display using:
|
|
The Will of Midoran
Posted: 14 Nov 2004 09:12 PM |
Alarwen left the reconciliation service even more troubled than ever about the future of Midor. She had expected to hear some contrition from Father Seran, a reasonable man portending to offer a open hand and an invitation for all the races of Vives to return to Midor in peace and safety. What was offered, however, was only superficial justification for Midor’s descent into xenophobia and extremism. If outsiders did not understand Midor’s actions, then too bad. There was no sincere apology for the rhetoric blaming elves and other non-Midorans for the city’s troubles. There was no acknowledgement that maybe execution, especially of so called “heretics”, might undermine rather than strengthen Midor’s security.
The Midorans were content, it seemed, to hide behind blind adherence to “Midoran’s will” – as if a single human, the White Bishop, were an infallible and perfect reflection of his god’s wishes and teachings. As with all religious teaching, was there no room for interpretation? Ala saw that even among the elven, whose gods spoke directly with them and often made their wishes known personally, there was room for open disagreement about life, morality, and governance.
Ala felt her heart sinking as she wondered whether all Midorans now considered years of tolerance and benevolence an error. Ever since the death of Lord-Bishop Baranmas and the elevation of Vidus, Ala had witnessed a deepening of Midor’s paranoia and isolation. Gone were the days when Midoran clerics were the epitome of kindness and benevolent justice, when all of Vives could be confident that the justice of Midor would be both fair and humane. Gone were the days when Midor stood as an anchor of stability in the world. The Midor Ala saw now was dark, hurt, withdrawn, brooding, and dangerous, ready to lash out at any individual or nation it perceived to be a threat to its security. Why could not the Midorans see that their leadership, stewing in ivory towers of fear and uncertainty, was twisting gospel to suit policy – that the need to justify actions was driving the “will of Midoran” rather than the other way around. How was it that the will of Midoran had been turned on its head?
As she felt bitterness creep into her heart, Ala fought to calm herself and keep outright hatred at bay. There was one obvious source of the evil that was now infecting even educated and reasonable people in Midor, whipping their devotion to their god into an unstoppable force of furor and self-righteous rage – Vidus. He had to be stopped before it was too late to awaken Midor to the real dangers gathering all around in subtle secrecy, before Midor became an instrument of the very evil it so feared, before the white city saw all of its neighbors as threats to be overrun with its armies of soldiers, priests, and paladins.
Time was growing short. |
Alarwen Emeria - Patience and time...
Ranger/Sorc/AA
Jessminda (companion) |
|
  |
|
|
Re: The Will of Midoran
Posted: 15 Nov 2004 12:46 AM |
"...that is what she said, my Lord." Delucien looked at his mentor, concern on his face. "She did not seem to understand exactly what I was trying to say.
"They are an arrogant people, Delucien," said the old man, "Set in their ways and unwilling to indulge others in beliefs that run contrary to theirs." Delucien nodded as he often did when around his teacher. There were few people he felt in awe of...the White Bishop, to be sure, but even Carmen Verat did not have the powerful presence of the man he now faced.
"Teacher," Delucien tilted his head, "I think they can understand. For some reason, they choose not to."
"Delucien, my boy, you must realize that the elves are used to their so called "gods" walking among them. It is the only way that these 'gods,'" the distain in his voice was clear, "can ever hope to hold the faith of their people. Only by constantly appearing and pandering to the followers do they engender faith." Delucien nodded. It made sense, of course. Midoran did not need to show himself to his people in order to create faith. His Word was Truth, and thus, it propgated itself and created it's own faith. Truth does not need to be reinforced, that is what Delucien had been taught from his first day as an Acolyte at the Academy. The Truth of Midoran was final. It was up to the faithful, the stewards of Midor, to maintain that Truth on Vives.
"That is the meaning of faith, Teacher. To believe, and to act, even without seeing for oneself."
"Be careful, Delucien," Delucien sighed inwardly. He had missed something again, and once again his mentor was going to correct him. And after I thought I finally had some insight of my own...by Midoran's will, I pray I am as wise as he is someday. His mentor continued, "You see, saying that one believes without seeing is a statement of faith, but it can also be interpreted as blindness. And stating that you have blind faith, my boy, is inviting the vultures for a feast."
It made sense, and Delucien knew immediately what to say. "Better to say that the Truth is immutable, and that Midoran's word and will are active today through the Truth he tells us. Though what is written, and what the White Bishop passes down."
"Excellent, my boy!" Delucien smiled at the rare praise, "The elves are weak of will. They follow their hearts, sometimes despite what their so called 'gods' tell them. Their truth is malleable to their whim." He older man leaned back in his chair, "The truth of Midoran is ironclad."
"Of course, teacher." Delucien smiled, "I only wish others could realize that truth."
"They do, Delucien. That elf, the one you were telling me about. You say that, by the end of your service this elf, this so called 'Chosen of Aros," was asking the Church to stop using the term heretic because," he chuckled humorlessly, "because it may hurt some peoples feelings? After all that was said, that was the only response she had?"
Delucien continued, "The half-elf, the one with the Midoran mother. She believes the Church to be promoting darkness, she.."
His teacher cut him off, "Do not believe that, boy. That is the pandering of a weak willed woman that refuses to accept the truth strength of Midoran’s will. She has spent too much time among the elves, I think."
"I tried to tell them what you taught me, sir. Of how the faithlessness of Midor allowed Fetter to infiltrate our holy Church. How evil gained a foothold because of our lack of attention. And now, with our return to orthodoxy, how we have become strong again." Delucien shook his head sadly, "But they would not listen."
"They seldom to, Delucien." Lord-Bishop Vidus Khain patted his student's shoulder in a fatherly manner, "They almost never do." |
My name is Byron Lorian....I am the Last Son |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|