Igelfeld Family/ The Awakening

Standing on the highest hill of Aspar, Moritz turns to his beloved subjects.

"What is it that separates man? Consider the beasts that prowl and hunt, kill without thought and destroy the good. We look to the wild things and see the rule of instinct. But what of man?"

"Does he not have instincts?" A brave soul inquires.

"instincts yes, but more than that for instincts do not rule the man as the monster. For brutes have instinct and nothing else, but the man has something more. Some say a gift, some a curse. But, reason is our difference, for it rules over our instincts. But some ignore reason and live by instinct, they fall short of their calling and we work to lift them back." __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"What are the Zuma? For they are not beast nor man. They are not dumb like the beasts nor mortal like man. They hold great power and magic, but to look at one is to see nether this world or the other. For the abide in our world but belong to another, and they know of both. To follow knowledge and use our reason, we pursue these beings for the hold greater truth of our world and the other."

"The great human is favored by the Zuma, and gifted with sight greater than mere man. Wisdom accompanies the mark, and vision of the other world is its dear companion. To know a blessed one is to know one who has seen truth and order." __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "As you look about your world what do you see? The fauns play as they always have, the sun rises as it always has, the people till and the land produces as is customary. Across this great land the prophets speak of the pantheon and the eternal struggle, yet as we stare across this great land the struggle is not what we see, it is the order. From where does this order come? for in a pantheon of battling spirits it does not follow reason. That pantheon you see, is a mirror of man, man forever struggles and has created the gods in his image.

"But as we look towards our world and you reason to see the truth, order becomes the dominating pattern and chaos is subjugated to order.

"Therefore beloved children, you shall practice the virtues born of understanding. You shall seek to restore order to this world you call home. And forever seek greater understanding from its possessors.

"The greatest of virtues is reason, for it is reason that separates man from beast and sets us above all other animals. To fail to practice reason, is to fail humanity. Of the three virtues reason is the greatest, without it no other virtue can be gained. In reason you must speak with those who do not see the order or the power of orders messengers, and reason must drive your arguments. Force and manipulation are vile as they do not rely on reason but the misuse of power.

"When speaking with the misguided, you must acknowledge the diversity of beliefs and not chastise those that follow other beliefs. For even the queerest beliefs hold some truth, though it be hidden by lies and foolishness. No man shall ever be condemned for debating on behalf of his beliefs. For reason shall always be encouraged. For as we hold the truth, and truth is always greater than its contradiction, our truth shall prevail. Among those who hold life and matter is all that exists, we can not tolerate. They shall have no power in our lives, and shall not influence us. For no belief is more vile, for to believe that matter is all that exists leads to treachery and evil. For without the spiritual, no basis for life and morality can be found."

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"Mithra is the highest order, the grounding of our faith. In acknowledgement, a person takes their first step towards the truth. But the first step is just that, and many more must follow. To understand what lies ahead, we must seek the virtues. To seek them, we must pursue them. and to pursue them, we must pursue those whom know them best.

"The Zuma are not fully of this world, and have exist without end. Their reason is beyond human reason, and their vision sees more than we dare to imagine. The Zuma know of Mithra, they know of the grand order, and to seek to understand, we must seek out the messengers. To speak with a Zuma, is to speak with one who spans the spheres. For they know order, and the possess reason.

"The truly blessed people of our faith are those favored by the Zuma. For in their favor great insight is found. And those whom receive their blessing, shall forever be the wisest of our people."