Ironsides Family/Hades/First Sermon

This sermon was delivered by Priest Hades Ironsides in the temple of Barad Gardor. It was met with an unenthusiastic response and only two followers joined the faith. It is significant, however, because it was his very first preaching experience as a priest of the Warrior Saints.

This is his first sermon, age 18:

---

Hades takes his first step by standing on a raised platform to deliver his first ever sermon on the Way of the Warrior Saints. The people of Barad Gardor enjoy the use of the temple and shrine but Hades wondered if they truly understood what it was they believed. It could not hurt to hear the words of a priest, even though this one was particularly green beyond belief.

“Nobles and peasants, followers of the Way, may I preach to you for this hour? This afternoon I wish to speak to you about a very important aspect of our faith, perhaps one of the most important. Today’s sermon is on the function of humanity as invigilators of Order on earth.

It has been written and preached in our faith that the Great Father created man to ensure the lands of the earth, the creatures of the earth and the phenomenon of the earth remain in their proper place. As the highest being, the Great Father trusted us with this important duty. This task is our sole designation. Our saints are men and women who were not only ultimate virtuous, but also able to invigilate order better than any other. By these qualities they were uplifted to Warrior Saint status and have become the standard for our ways of living.

I find that in order to understand something, it is sometimes best to consider it from its opposing perspective. So let us ponder order by considering what disorder is. Humans are an odd animal. We can simultaneously speak peace and perform violence. We desire prosperity but ensure chaos and degradation. It is unknown why the Great Father created us in this way, and due to these inadequate qualities it is also unknown why he would trust us with this supreme task. Disorder then, is when all the things that we are supposed to do are not done. All of the things that we are meant to do, by our duties, in our loyalties, through our relations with others are not done. When we do not obey our station we are causing disorder. When we do things excessively, we are causing disorder. When we try to rearrange our lives to put us in a position we do not deserve, or are acting for selfish reasons (selfish being things done outside of the benefit of everyone) then we are causing disorder. When disorder reigns, the noise will wake the Sleeping Father and the end will come. That is an undesirable and avoidable outcome.

Considering disorder then, it can become evident on what order really is. Stay in your station, obey your duty, remain loyal to your peers and superiors, and do not act selfishly. Most of all follow the ways of our Warrior Saints. They knew how to live best, and were given the greatest reward because of it.

I will end my first sermon by thanking you for your time, and wishing you many blessings. Please remain ordered, that is the way we were meant to live. Please continue to progress order, that is the sole use of our existence. If you find yourself swaying or slacking you can always use the Warrior Saints as guides for your path.”

Hades wiped the nervous sweat from his forehead and stepped down. The crowd was unimpressed by his low voice and lack of confidence. Luckily for him they understood that he was new to the game. Two forgiving spectators genuinely recognized the importance of his sermon and took up the Way of the Warrior Saints.