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| − | This is not really a character page for Aeryn. Its just a safe place for me to keep the scripture for a religion Aeryn is considering founding. Having said that, it is also not an official religion. Hence, it is here, and not its own page with the other religions.
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| − | ==The Meter==
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| − | Translated by Aeryn [[Arete_Family|Arete]]
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| − | ===Introduction===
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| − | ''The Meter'' contains within it all the teachings of Aristoi Atamarism, which is primarilly concerned with the general good and welfare of [[Abington]] and its people, not of other religions, nor even of the religion of Abingtonians. For this reason [[Abington]] is not and never shall be a theocracy.
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| − | ''The Meter'' is broken up into five books
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| − | * The Book of Genesis - records the creation of the world.
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| − | * The Book of Exodus - records the greatness of [[Abington]].
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| − | * The Gospel of Pragma - teaches the virtues of utility, especially justice.
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| − | * The Gospel of Kalos - teaches the virtue of beauty, especially harmony.
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| − | * The Metacallisto - explains the prophecy of ''The Good Queen''.
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| − | The following Priests of Aristoi Atamarism have written commentaries and interpretations of ''The Meter''
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| − | * No one yet...
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| − | ===Note on the Translation===
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| − | ''The Meter'' was written in an ancient language and therefore must be translated into modern Abingtonian. The art of translation is very difficult, and therefore future editions of this text may be slightly different as more accurate translations become avaliable. There is only one copy of ''The Meter'' in the original language, and you don't have it, so please do not attempt to translate ''The Meter''.
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| − | ==The Meter==
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| − | ===The Book of Genesis===
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| − | In the beginning, there was Nothing. And we call ''that-thing-which-is-not-something'' the ''Aestin''. Since the ''Aestin'' is not something, it could not be evil, and therefore ''Aestin'' is good. The ''Aestin'' also did not have any parts, since it was not something, and being without parts, the ''Aestin'' could not be disordered. And so from ''Aestin'' we are given order. Thus, order is good.
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| − | But order is. And so in the beginning, there was only order, and it was good. But since there was a beginning, there must have been ''that-which-is-after-the-beginning'', which we call the ''Agenoi''. The ''Agenoi'' could not have been ordered because if it were order then it would have been the beginning, which it was not. And so ''Agenoi'' was disordered, and so it must have had parts.
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| − | But parts are not the whole, or else they would not be parts, and so the parts do not have to be disordered like the whole. And parts are, and things that are are things, so parts are things. And so after the beginning there were things. And since there was also order and disorder, some of these things were ordered and some of these things were disordered.
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| − | And ''those-things-that-are-ordered'' are called the ''Pragma'' because they are useful. And ''those-things-that-are-disordered'' are called the ''Kalos'' because they are beautiful. Therefore, after the beginning, there was only utility and beauty, which are good. And one day ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' decided to make something else, and we call this something ''The World of BattleMaster''.
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| − | Let us give thanks to Beauty and Utility!
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| − | ===The Book of Exodus===
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| − | There came to be many things which were not before. And some of these things were beautiful, and some of these things were useful. But some of these things were neither beautiful nor useful, and since only the beautiful and the useful are good, these things were not good. ''The World of BattleMaster'' was full of ''those-things-which-are-not-good'', especially on the continent we call [[Atamara]]. Therefore, ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' decided to bring together into one realm all the beautiful and useful things of [[Atamara]] so that the people of [[Atamara]] would see what beauty and utility is. Thus, ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' justly said in harmony "Let there be [[Abington]]", and so it was.
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| − | But the rest of the [[Atamara]] became jealous of the beauty and utility of [[Abington]], and so they called [[Abington]] evil. But they did not understand what they were saying, because only beauty and utility, as well as those things that come from beauty and utility, are good, and therefore [[Abington]] is good and not evil. And so ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' smiled upon [[Abington]] and made [[Abington]] powerful among the realms of [[Atamara]].
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| − | But it came to pass that many of the other realms of [[Atamara]] saw the goodness of [[Abington]], and they decided to be good. And so they wanted to do beautiful and useful things like the people of [[Abington]]. But they did not know how, since all the beauty and utility of [[Atamara]] was in [[Abington]]. But the ''Abingtonians'', being useful, taught the other realms how to be beautiful. And the ''Abingtonians'', being beautiful, taught the other realms how to be useful. And so in this way, many realms came to be good like [[Abington]].
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| − | Praise be to Abby!
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| − | ===The Gospel of Pragma===
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| − | And ''Pragma'' made himself seen to the original ''Abingtonians'' through all things useful, and most especially through geometry, for geometry is the most useful thing of all. Through geometry, the ''Abingtonians'' learned to measure the land of [[Atamara]], and so were able to divide the realm into duchies, and the duchies into regions. And they measured the distance from each region to another so that they would know how much time it would take to travel from the former to the latter. And many other things came to be measured, such as the amount of gold and food each region would produce, the quality of the weapons and armour of their units, the populations of their duchies, and the combat strength of their armies.
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| − | And so too were academies built in the cities to measure the skills of its nobles and to make those skills more useful by increasing their measures. These skills, such as leadership and swordfighting, were much more difficult to measure than the land of [[Atamara]], but through careful study even these things came to be known to the ''Abingtonians'', and they even learned, through the lessons of geometry, how to measure justice, which is to give to each what is directly proportional to their utility. And so the ''Abingtonians'' invented taxes to measure and distribute what is directly proportional to the utility of each. And so it was through geometry that ''Pragma'' bestowed upon the ''Abingtonians'' the Commandment of Justice.
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| − | Praise be to Abby!
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| − | ====The Commandment of Justice====
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| − | * Thou shalt obey the laws of [[Abington]], for obedience is useful, and the laws are just.
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| − | ===The Gospel of Kalos===
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| − | And ''Kalos'' made herself heard by the original ''Abingtonians'' through all things beautiful, and most especially through music, for music is the most beautiful thing of all. And music is most beautiful because it is most harmonious and harmony is beautiful. The ''Abingtonians'' than came to know many others things that are harmonious, most especially cooperation and organization, which are only possible through communication and organization. And so the ''Abingtonians'' began to collect information, such as lists and bulletins and maps, and they used scribes to deliver messages and record events, and they began to vote for their rulers and judges and set unit formations so that the armies of [[Abington]] would work together in harmony and therefore be beautiful.
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| − | And so too was the heirarchy invented by the ''Abingtonians'' so that they could cooperate most harmoniously. And it came to pass through the heirarchy the use of orders, which was the most beautiful communication of all for above all else these orders brought cooperation and harmony to the people of [[Abington]]. And through great battles did the ''Abingtonians'' come to be the most beautiful people in [[Atamara]] for they obeyed the orders and thus cooperated with each other. And so it was through music that ''Kalos'' bestowed upon the ''Abingtonians'' the Commandment of Harmony.
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| − | Praise be to Abby!
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| − | ====The Commandment of Harmony====
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| − | * Thou shalt obey the orders of the ''Abingtonians'', for it is cooperative to do so, and harmony is beautiful.
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| − | ===The Metacallisto===
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| − | And there came to be a prophet in [[Abington]] by the name of Aeryn [[Arete_Family|Arete]]. And to her came ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' who spoke to her and said "You will build a temple." But Aeryn did not want to build a temple, and so she said "I do not want to build a temple. I want to be useful and beautiful." But ''Kalos'' said to Aeryn "If you wish to be beautiful, you will be harmonious," and ''Pragma'' said to Aeryn "If you wish to be useful, you will be just." And so Aeryn built a temple.
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| − | And than ''Kalos'' and ''Pragma'' returned to Aeryn and said "You will preach harmony and justice to the peasants of [[Atamara]] so that they can be beautiful and useful too." But Aeryn did not want to preach harmony and justice, and so she said "I do not want to preach to the peasants of [[Atamara]] for I do not know what harmony and justice is." And so ''Kalos'' and ''Pragma'' told Aeryn how the world was created, how Abington was good, how music teaches us that harmony is beautiful, and how geometry teaches us that justice is useful.
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| − | And so Aeryn shared the teachings of ''Kalos'' and ''Pragma'' with the people, who than shared it with others, and in this way knowledge of justice and harmony began to spread across the land of [[Abington]], which was already useful and beautiful, already just and harmonious, but did not yet know it, and thus these teachings came to be known as ''Abbyism''. And so the people of [[Abington]] continued to be useful and beautiful.
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| − | And this made Aeryn happy, and so she asked "Will [[Abington]] always be this useful?" But ''Pragma'' said "No." And so Aeryn than asked "Will [[Abington]] always be this beautiful?" But ''Kalos'' said "No." And this made Aeryn sad, and so she asked "Is it not beautiful for [[Abington]] to be useful? Is it not useful for [[Abington]] to be beautiful?" But ''Pragma'' and ''Kalos'' justly replied in harmony "Those who are ugly and useless are jealous of [[Abington]] and will accuse [[Abington]] of being unjust and disharmonious. The ugly and useless are wicked and they are ignorant; they will attempt to destroy [[Abington]], and all that is useful and beautiful in [[Abington]] will forever be made to be less so by the wicked and ignorant. In this way will [[Abington]] die, and therefore will no longer be useful or beautiful." And so Aeryn asked "When will this come to pass?"
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| − | "There will be a queen of great beauty and utility, and she will reign over [[Abington]] most justly and harmoniously, and all will be good for the people of [[Abington]] for many years. She will be known as ''The Good Queen'' and ''Lady Virtue''. But if she comes to ruin, all that is ugly and useless will rule over [[Atamara]], and the people of [[Abington]] will be scattered and forgotten. Justice and harmony will give way to the wicked, and there will be only despair for your people." Upon hearing this, Aeryn wept, and pledged her loyalty to the common good of [[Abington]] and its people, for any one of them might be ''The Good Queen''.
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