The Virtues

by Gwynneth van Lace of Silverleaf

An introductory essay.

Dear reader, writing about the Virtues is a task nay easy. Things that are solid and touchable are rather easily to describe. The Virtues are a philosophy and thus are a very individual thing.

This essay is neither complete nor does it claim to hold the absolute truth about the Virtues. To my deepest conviction Truth is nothing that is easy to understand or even write down. So the lines thou dost read are more a short introduction in the basic philosophy of the Virtues.
They reflect my personal interpretation of the virtues, I encourage you to build your own opinion, but whatever it may be, you should be ready and willing to change it if you learn more.

First Chapter - The History

The history of the Virtues is rather cloudy. While we can be certain that the Virtues itself exist as long as mankind, Virtues might have had been named different. It is obvious that the Virtues reflect basic human emotions and characteristics that can, if used wisely, help a people to prosper and live together peacefully.
The shrines on the other hand were built on order or Lord British. He was the very person that introduced the concept of the Virtues to the Sosarian people.
While the origin and history of Lord British is unclear itself, we have evidence that he is nay native Sosarian and might have brought the philosophy of the Virtues from his home world or plane.
Some ancient texts mention that Lord British himself was enlightened by a being called the Timelord.
Whatever the history of the Virtues is, the Virtues are about the present. The peaceful and flourishing live among friendly people.

Second Chapter - The Principle Virtues

The philosophy of the Virtues can be likened to a stable house. A house, when built properly, offers shelter and hold in even the most troubled times.
The foundattion and bricks of our house are the Three Principle Virtues.

Each of them comes from thriving to transcend life, to understand life and guides to enlightment.
Every Principle Virtue has a place and an item of symbolisation and power.

Truth

Truth is hard to see, for it is all that really is. All that is nay shale falsehood and can be also seen as distillation of all that is fact.
Truth is hard to grasp, for we all have a different point of view on the world and what looks true to us, might be false to our fellows. To overcome this obstacle is to gain true insight and understanding of Truth.
To create a place of Truth, the Lycaeum in Moonglow was built. Every written book and most of the lore is stored there, also the Book of Truth, the symbol of Truth is said to rest there.
It is said that each Principle Virtue has a word of power and "VER" is for Truth.

Courage

To stand up and fight for thy beliefs is the very core of Courage. Courage should neither end in foolishness self-sacrifice nor being an excuse for picking up fights. Nor shall the weak who is overcome by fear in conflict with superior force be called a Coward. For Courage rests mainly in the heart and not only in the swordarm. Courage fastens the belief and helps to stand up against all odds.
Serpents Hold and its Knight-Order of the Silver Serpent was founded on Courage. The ringing peal of the Bell of Courage is said to strengthen the will and hearts of wavering men.
The word of power is "COR".

Love

Love appears to be the Principle easiest to understand, for who not has loved once or still has beloved ones?
But be nay fooled into understanding love limited to the love we have for our beloved ones.
Love is a state of ultimate caring for all beings and things and even thoughts and ideas. It comes without prejudice or hatred and is nay blended by prider or selfishness.
Thus the devil's advocate may state that there is nay Love, for who can say that he or she did nay benefit from having beloved ones? Thus the love given would be no true Love for it was given in expectancy of a reward.
But be nay fooled with this twisted logic! Love comes from the heart and the heart knows Hatred and Love as well, but nay logic and Love felt can nay be played or created for the use of "exchange".
Do nay question thyself if thou dost follow Love. Do nay force thyself to give Love. Love is like a golden leaf in the autumn winds. It flies freely and cannot be forced in any direction but the direction the wind goes.
The word of Love is "AMO" while the Principle Virtue is symbolised by the Candle of Love. Empath Abbey of the Brotherhood of the Rose is the place of power of Love.

Third Chapter - The Virtues

From these three Principle Virtues come the eight Virtues. In our house, the Principles build the foundation and also the bricks to build the walls with. The Principal Virtues can be combined, so that one Virtue influences the other and the outcome is the concept of one of the eight Virtues.

Compassion

Compassion is Love and Love alone. Compassion could be said to be love for the living, for that is what defines a Compassionate person, one who holds the well being of all living things in respect and concern.
If thou dost follow Compassion, then open your eyes to the suffering of others, and do what thou can to ease their pain. Compassion does nay know friend or foe, if thou art able to apply the same caring concern for thy beloved ones and thy most hatred foe, thou might have mastered this Virtue.
Those who choose the path of Compassion often become Bards.
While the sign of Compassion is the heart, it's city is Britain. The Shrine of Compassion can be found in the desert to the Northeast of Britain. To meditate there, chant the mantra "MU".

Honesty

Honesty is the distillation of Truth. Respect the Truth and be honest to thy next as well as to thyself. Being honest to oneself is maybe more difficult, because Truth often hurts and deceiving oneself may look like a simple and relieving path.
Honesty can be cruel but in itself, Truth does nay judge nor tell what is best, but what is.
The mages of Moonglow follow Honesty, the open hand is their symbol. The Shrine of Honesty can be found on the icy island north of Moonglow. To meditate, chant the the mantra "AHM".

Valor

Valor is the courage to take actions in support of one's convictions, it comes from pure Courage. Facing ones fears and triumphing over them is Courage. Untempered Valor may lead to foolishness. Even a retreat may be courageous, for thou must first overcome thy fear of shame.
The figthers of Jhelom follow the sign of Valor, the sword. The Shrine of Valor can be found on a small tropic island to the Southwest of Serpents Hold or to the East of Jhelom. The mantra is "RA".

Justice

Truth and Love combined lead to Justice. Love for the victim as well as the wrongdoer tempers the cold Truth.
Compassion and Honesty need be found in equal parts in the Virtue of Justice, too. If one falls too far towards Honesty, then justice is overly harsh, ignoring the situation. If one errs on the side of Compassion, then Justice is inneffectual. Only by holding both parts in equal regard, to all being equally, can one truly be Just.
The druids of Yew are the keepers of Justice. The sign of Justice is the scales, while the Shrine can be found to the east of Yew. The mantra is "BEH".

Sacrifice

Courage to giving oneself in the name of Love is Sacrifice. Sacrifice can take many looks, in battle for thy comrades or in as leader office when sacrificing much of thy live for to better serve thy followers.
Sacrifice needs something to follow, something thou dost hold above all and are willing to sacrifice everything thou dost own - including thy very life - to it.
Minoc is the town alleged to this virtue and the tinke is the profession following its ideals. The Shrine of Sacrifice can be found to the East of Minoc or Northeast of Vesper near the shore.
To meditate, chant the mantra "CAH".

Honor

The Paladins of Trinsic devoted their lifes to Honor. Following Honor both needs Truth and Courage, for it requires to stand up with all Courage for Truth.
Knowing Truth and let it guide thy actions and words, thou will find Courage to stand against all enmities.
Devoting thy life to Truth, thy Honor will be tested by many temptations and threats.
The goblet is the the sign of Honor, the Shrine can be found in the jungle to the South of Trinsic and East of Jhelom. Chant the mantra "SUMM" to mediate.

Spirituality

Combining all three Principle Virtues, one comes to the Virtue of Spirituality. It is the concern with one's inner being and how one deals with Truth, Love, and Courage.
Spirituality is everything, it is the understanding of the Virtues, and the willingness to apply them to oneself. One must look inside their own heart and mind and find what the Virtues are and why they are.
Self-contemplation and realizing who you are and changing thyself to the better based in thy contemplating is the first step on the path of Spirituality.
The Rangers of Skara Brae follow this path and hold high the Ankh as Symbol of this Virtue. The Shrine can be found North of Trinsic near the road to Britain. To enter the Shrine and meditate, chant the Mantra "OM".

Humility

Humility is perceiving one's place in the world, not according to one's own accomplishments, but according to the intrinsic value of all individuals. Humility follows no rules, and one cannot try to attain it, for Humility simply is. Humility is the absence of Pride, and follows no principles.
The true test to Humility is to attain it, yet not be filled with it. If one recognizes themselves as being Humble, then they have Pride in their Humility, and render themselves Prideful instead.
To attain this virtue, one must be mindful of themselves, and realize that there is always a way to better themselves, and that they can learn from one of any stature, from the lowest beggar to the highest noble.
The Shepherds are the ideal of this virtue, for their quiet unassuming lives are ones of peace and practicality. There is nay town dedicated to Humility, but the town of Magincia seems rather attached to Pride - the antithesis of Humility.
The Shrine of Humility can be found in the western part of the Isle of Fire, the mantra is "LUM".

Fourth Chapter - Chaos

Chaos is nay Virtue in itself, as Order is nay one. The Shrine of Chaos was build by Lord Blackthorn as antipole to the Order of the Virtues of his friend Lord British.
Nowadays Chaos is often seen as evil and destructive force, but it was nay ment this way. Chaos is creation out of change. While order builds strong monuments, chaos cares for the change in both people and the world.
The Virtues are nay affected by Order or Chaos, but the way the Virtues are lived or followed might either be that of Order or Chaos. Lord British held high ideals and thought of the Virtues bringing Order and safety to all people.
Lord Blackthorn feared that with harsh Order and the fact, that Virtues should serve as guidelines, many people would be destroyed by that Order or misinterprete the Virtues. Thus he declared Chaos as Principle opposed to Order.
It is true that there have been many fights between the followers of Order and Chaos, but neither of them acted on behalf of their Lords or the Virtues.

Fifth Chapter - Walking the Path of Virtue

There is nay one true path to enlightment. The Virtues are guidelines and must be experienced by everyone who wants to understad them on their own.
They can be studied with the mind but never be understood fully if the heart does nay feel them. But without studying the philosophy of the Virtues, a heart feeling the Virtues cannot succeed to vanquish all doubts.
It is written, that there was once a great hero, called the Avatar that slew the evil wizard Mondain. This Avatar had to master all Virtues in order to be able to fight the wizard.
Since this very day, the Avatar has nay be seen again. If others have mastered all the Virtues is nay known, and it does nay matter.
For the path is the aim and nay state of mastership.

Epilogue

This short essay shall end here, the topic of the Virtues and the Politics is an important one, for many misuse the Virtues
to justify their rule. But this shall be handled in another Essay.

If thou dost wish to discuss the Virtues, please feel free to do so. Doubt is an important part of the path of knowledge and wisdom.

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