Marshal Loeren chewed the nib of her quill concerned about the problem she faced. Approach after approach she had considered and discarded – arguments after argument had failed to win understanding. Her militant brethren supported her from duty but failed to truly understand the urgency of the issue from the Inquisition's point of view. No, it was time to write to the one person with the wisdom to understand the situation and the knowledge of the arguments she would need to deploy to win her case.
To Maester Anduvael Geren, on a matter of doctrinal purity.
Whilst debate on theology is normally a matter of joy, and exhilaration, a pastime that clarifies the mind and exalts the spirits, from time to time one of the flock develops a flawed yet stubborn interpretation that requires correction. Mostly these errors are corrected readily by guidance and patience, but as you know every now and again, in even the most faithful, the error is persistent.
One must then decide whether to enforce doctrine, and risk injuring those good at heart if generally unburdened by the cares of wisdom, or to tolerate the flawed understanding and seek to contain it until it wither harmlessly through the effluxion of time, or turn it to triviality or esoteric wondering that others will shun. These decisions are however fraught with risk, for as you know full well, mishandled misunderstanding may become heresy and threaten the faith in ways no less dangerous for their being words and thoughts rather than arms and deeds, and so I would seek a measure of guidance from your most learned self on how to proceed.
The matter on which I am forced to write seeking guidance, regards the transubstantiation and ascendance of Haelyn and the lesser Lords of Light at the Battle of Mount Deismaar at the conclusion of the War of the Shadow (yes, I know, how often must we contend with misunderstanding on this ancient yet eternally vital issue?!)
Specifically, when Holy Anduiras vanquished the Shadow and banished it from Aebrynis, did he lay his mantle on Haelyn as heir and then pass beyond in sad yet necessary penance for deicide, and the rending of the world attendant on such, or did Anduiras and his vassals pass beyond, and most Holy Haelyn and his vassals then ascend as their most worthy heirs?
You will see at course the danger in the arguments, that these misguided templars see as mere abstract curiosity and speculation. But to lay out, for purpose of clarity in my mind if nothing else; the heresies that they appear to risk falling into are as follows:
The Heresy of the Black Prince
Ambition consumes many men, and the greater the prize perceived, the more readily greed leads to black ambition that overpowers reason and Haelyn’s laws. If one can inherit godhood by virtue of command and followers; then that ‘ultimate prize’ risks spurring in turn the ultimate betrayals in order to gather the power necessary to achieve it. Thus is the fabric of the faith, and indeed society, torn asunder and consumed in the quest for godhood through the domination of ones fellows.
The Heresy of the Sidhe
The gods are mightier than any nation, more glorious than any poet’s prose, more magnificent than the finest song, more complex than the finest scholar can know. Yet some still claim that these luminous beings can die, that they can indeed be killed. The Shadow was cast into the void between worlds, never to return so long as men hold their faith, the old gods passed beyond and granted their mantle to their heirs, to claim otherwise is to reduce the gods from immaculate immortality to frail mortality, and so declare them no more than mighty heroes – and so undermine the very basis of all faith.
The Heresy of the Diabolyk
If the gods claimed their mantle by absorbing the power of the old gods, and became more than mortal, then such a thing could re-occur if a scion was to usurp sufficient numbers of scions. And so the path of the awnsheghlien becomes seen as the path of wisdom and thus embraced.
The Heresy of the Vos
While the truth that the gods of the Light were granted their mantle by their predecessors that man continue be guided and protected is well known, the secret of the dark twins stole their power is hidden from the flock – with of course good reason. The Heresy of the Vos claims that these twisted demons hold the power of true gods, such lies lead men to embrace demonology and corruption of their flesh and damns their souls to the devouring dark.
The Heresy of the Forsaken
Lastly, the Heresy of the Sidhe as twisted by the despairing forsaken. If the gods were slain, and the new gods simply claimed their mantle fifteen centuries ago, then why have none ascended since? As the chain of logics descends in ever decreasing spirals into despair the faithful lose all faith entirely, and become convinced that there are no gods, that the miracles we see every day are merely the whims of fate, spirits of nature, or sorcery. Bereft utterly of hope and despairing of any afterlife this Heresy leads inevitably to madness and ruin.
So far none of the flock have strayed into considering the heresies noted, nor any of the lesser heresies. However I fear to use the rhetorics of Liemen of Avani or Faelen of Nesirie, or the overwhelming arguments so ably put forth by Prelate Mourde. My fear is simple, by teaching of these truths, one inevitably must teach of the lies that these worthies dispelled – and the lies are seductive whilst the counter arguments require strong faith and reason to truly take root in the soul. I have tried to use Sister Raenae’s discourse on the Book of Laws, however they yet ponder.
So I ask, have you other arguments that I might try? Have you suggestions on how to proceed if not through gentle reason? Are there other heresies from which they must be steered? Any guidance you might provide would be welcome; for the folk concerned are good souls if clearly a little slow. I had considered having them sent to separate missions into Morocosoer – but is there a risk that I will simply multiply the issue?
In hope that you may answer this conundrum
Marshal Loeren Maricoere
