The Parable of Two Divine Councils

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Caenarfon: The Parable of Two Divine Councils

Sat Oct 23 12:58:47 2010

To: Knighthood Shadow Imm Nadrik Necrucifer Storyline Religion Nazca Kyri all

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Hail,

I have received an outburst from Evil claiming that they are Good and

honorable, who aspire to virtue and morality, peace and love and everything

Good stands for.

I have written "The Parable of Two Divine Councils" for them. It is a tale

of what might have once happened long ago.

Disclaimer: I have not written this to be inflammatory. This is a work of

fiction to prove a point. I am genuinely pleased that some Evil sincerely

lives and breathes the principles of Good. It is a far cry from darker days

when death to the Sons of Malice resulted in losing everything you owned,

and that the word of someone Evil meant nothing. How they consider Good,

noble and moral action part of the remit of Evil I have not come to terms

with, yet I will pray for their sincerity. As in my parable, I believe that

goodness and honor comes from good and honorable action, rather than the God

we serve and it is our responsibility to reconcile that knowing the nature

of our God.

All conversation appearing in this work is fictitious. Any resemblance to

real conversations, divine or mortal, is purely coincidental.

Corwen, High Clerist

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Caenarfon: The Divine Council of Evil

Sat Oct 23 13:07:37 2010

To: Knighthood Shadow Imm Nadrik Necrucifer Storyline Religion Nazca Kyri all

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A deep crimson blur faded to reveal a family of six red-auraed divine

beings.

"We have a problem." Said Necrucifer, vexed.

"What problem is this Father?" Frowned Fatale.

"Ever since I tried to assassinate Austinian, the followers of Austinian and

Kwainin have been more plentiful and willing to do their Gods bidding.

Meanwhile our followers of Evil are in disarray. They argue, lie, cheat and

kill one another. They don't work together at all." Grumbled Necrucifer.

"We're losing ground in our efforts to make Algoron our own."

The Gods of Evil looked between one another nervously. They knew he was

right.

A maniacal laugh reverberated amongst the divine red aurans, enough to chill

even a divine spine.

"Oh Father. Everyone is just doing it wrong!" Cackled Devion, the Lord of

Deceit.

Necrucifer frowned darkly at his most irreverent Son. "I am listening."

"What you need Father, is a complete rework of your public relations. Why

are the followers of Good doing well? They're working together! They're

helping one another. They're following of morality and virtue, you know all

that stuff we hate, and it's inspiring those foolish mortals to jump on the

bandwagon of Good." Laughed Devion pausing before continuing in a whisper.

"But what if we stole their ideas? What if we took all the things that are

making Good thrive? Then our followers would stop killing each other and

start working together!"

The group of divine red-aurans looked at each other, looking completely

unconvinced.

He flounced up to Dragoth, picking up a fallen diseased finger, and gave it

to Drakkara for reattachment.

"You who are the Lord of Disease and Decay. Have you looked in a mirror

recently? You're a public relations disaster. You want to marry evil to

'disease and decay' for all living things. Not exactly building up a

sustainable following are we! Not a crowd-pleaser at all. I tell you what,

let's take a lesson from Zandreya from this one, and claim that not only do

you wither and decay everything, but that you are also responsible for

nature's circle of life. Now there's a product you can sell."

Devion rounded to Fatale, carefully dodging the armory of death that he

carried.

"You who are the Lord of Murder. "Murder"? That won't do at all. Let's

call it "Death". Much more of a neutral connotation. No mention of

'murder' in your tenets ya'hear? One day we'll give you a sick and bloody

kingdom where you can murder to your heart's content. All death is certain,

which is fine - you just get involved to hurry up the process is all."

Laughed Devion before prancing over to Mencius.

"You who are the Lord of Vengeance and Rage. All that anger and wrath. No

good, can't sell that. How about we call it passion and divine justice?

People can believe in that. Not everyone works by logic you know. Some

people just have to lash out." Grinned Devion, patting Mencius on the head.

The Gods of Evil watched Devion skip over to Drakkara then collapse

dramatically in Her arms.

"Dear, dear Mother, who raised Us in our evil ways, who with our Father are

responsible for what We have become. Tarry with evil magic no longer. Let

us call it "Magic of the Black Moon". Far better. We can't have people

worrying about consequences and ideology whilst casting their evil spells

now can we? Don't forget to tell them that Your magic is more powerful than

the magic of Kantilles or Sebatis." Giggled Devion, stroking his mother's

cheek.

"And Father, the Lord of Evil and of all things tainted immorality and

vice. You will inspire a Knighthood of Honor!" Chortled Devion

mischievously.

"Honor?" Asked Necrucifer, his aura deepening to a darker red.

"Of course! Do you see Austinian's steadfast knights? They are ordered,

well trained and disciplined. They will give their lives for each other,

and inspire the general populace of Algoron to follow them with their noble

deeds. What do you have? A bunch of uncouth bullies who are looking out

for themselves, fight alone and will flee at the first sight of the battle

going against them. Wouldn't you like some of Austinian and Nadrik's

Knighthood instead?"

Necrucifer sneered, and then his expression relaxed as He paused

thoughtfully.

"I could have an order of Knights?" He asked suspiciously.

"We're Gods Father, they listen to anything we say! You just have to dress

it up right! The Lord of Knighthood is weak. A couple of Your choice words

in his ear and he will be yours. You don't mind lying do you? Haven't

grown a conscience have we?" Laughed Devion rudely.

Necrucifer took a mighty swipe at him, which Devion dodged with ease. "So I

lie, I say I'm a higher evil which is a greater good?" Asked Necrucifer

when he had composed himself. "I can preach things like peace, which

Algoron can have after I have asserted my completely selfish rule of course,

and rule with an iron fist as I have always dreamed! The creations of

Austinian and Kwainin will be wiped from existence and history!"

"That's good copy Father." Agreed Devion, winking at Dragoth as his ear

fell off. "Does that mean you wipe out everyone but the Ogres? What of

humanity?"

The Lord of Evil laughed harshly. "Yes, I see it now." Mused Necrucifer.

"We pose as a greater Good whose morality and virtue will overcome a blinded

Good. Then instead of all our evil followers looking out for themselves,

I'll force them to co-operate under the banner of 'Evil Unity'!"

"Excellent Father, but you can go even further! How about we take this Good

and Evil ideology out of the equation, and call it Blue and Red instead?"

Devion gasped at his own inspiration. "Better yet, let's call it LIGHT and

DARK!"

The Gods of Evil gave him a round of applause and clapped him roughly on the

back. Devion buffed his fingernails modestly.

"And You my Son? What will you do?" Asked Drakkara.

"Me? I'll do what I've always done. LIE!" Cackled Devion. For some

reason, mischief and lies sell a lot better than any of your specialties.

I'll go on about freedom and people being allowed to be all they can be,

when really I'll be fooling everyone!" Laughed Devion, doing handsprings

down the divine chamber.

"So hang on, who gets to be Evil?" Snarled Mencius. "I want RAGE! I want

VENGENCE!"

"MURDER!! Bloood!" Echoed Fatale.

Devion held his head in his hands.

"You're all still Evil you dopes, you just TELL them that you're nice so

that your religions can be popular and you can get a decent following! Have

you been listening at all?" Shrieked Devion, rolling his eyes. "Oh for

goodness sake, just tell them what I've told you. They'll listen, they HAVE

TO!"

"Wait." Drakkara frowned. "Won't Evil figure out that they're being Good?

It's going to be too obvious."

Necrucifer scratched his head, then smiled. "I suppose we just shun and

punish them if they start asking the wrong questions. Alright, let's do it

Devion's way. Well done my Son."

Devion revelled in His master work, His triumph.

The six red-auraed family of divine beings faded to a deep crimson blur.

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Caenarfon: The Divine Council of Good

Sat Oct 23 13:20:57 2010

To: Knighthood Shadow Imm Nadrik Necrucifer Storyline Religion Nazca Kyri all

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A bright golden blur faded to reveal a family of six golden-auraed divine

beings.

"We have a problem." Said Austinian, vexed.

"What problem is this my Love?" Frowned Taliena, moving swiftly to His

side.

"Evil have understood their shortcomings and have changed their strategy.

They have re-invented themselves." Said Austinian.

The divine golden-aurans looked at each other, perplexed.

"What do you mean Father?" Asked Kantilles.

"They have returned to Algoron professing to be a greater good. They have

already formed a new Knighthood. Necrucifer has bent all his will to San

Gohdam's ear. The Lord Knight has split from Serpantol taking a large

following of our Knights." Said Austinian.

There were cries of dismay and despair from the divine golden-aurans.

"Stealing our following using deceit Father? Surely Devion is at the heart

of this. We must show those of Algoron that this is false, and that there

is only one path to Good, and that is through us." Urged Nadrik.

Kantilles and Siccara gave a shout of approval. Kadiya was silent.

Austinian folded his arms and considered long before speaking. All looked

to him.

"No. We are the Gods of Good. We have given our followers the gift of free

will, to choose. We have issued our divine tenets of Good, our laws which

we ask them to respect and follow." Spake Austinian.

Siccara stepped forward, a faint smell of lavender filling the air.

"When mortals are commanded, their soul is in their keeping alone. When

they stand before Judgment they cannot say "but I was told by others to do

thus" or that "virtue was not convenient at the time. The responsibility of

mortals will be decided by their actions." She said gently.

Nadrik nodded to His sister, his flawless platemail and sword of honor

making the room even brighter.

"Goodness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot

defend themselves. What we desire of men is in their heads and hearts.

What they decide to do every day determines if they will be good, or evil."

"What man is Good who does not make the world better?" Asked Kadiya

solemnly.

Austinian heard what had been said and smiled.

"Let us consider this holistically. Let Evil preach for doing Good deeds.

Knights of Evil serving our treasured concept of honor. Necrucifer

preaching peace, respect, unity and co-operation. Dragoth preaching life

anew. Devion offering truth and freedom. These virtues were not previously

in the hearts of our enemies. Surely some will begin to look within and

start to understand their responsibility in their choice of path." Spake

Austinian in measured tones.

"Although mortals follow the Evil Gods, they will carry Good in their

hearts. Is it not more important that Our children do so, than on whom they

choose to follow?"

The six golden-auraed family of divine beings faded to a bright golden blur.

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Zayin: Fiction

Sun Oct 24 17:07:49 2010

To: Caenarfon All Devion Imm Religion RP

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I can only agree, your parable is a very clever work of fiction - not to

mention a nice bit of propaganda. It caters to precisely the mindset that

will smile and nod along with any priest that happens to say the words one

wishes to hear or read. Unfortunately, reality seems to attest to the exact

opposite of your presentation of possibilities in the Divine realm and

moreover the carry over effects here within this mortal coil, unless I'm

very much mistaken on the flow of recent events. I suppose it could be that

I'm irrevocably insane and am hallucinating that the Darkness has gathered

the first there shards for precisely the reason that the servants of Evil

have worked in a unified manner to achieve the ends dictated to them by the

Gods they serve.

More importantly, and more interestingly, the why of this transpiring does

not matter. Why one individual or group has achieved their forward momentum

is irrelevant. The only thing that has mattered is what has been achieved.

And what has been achieved? Thus far, success. Why? Because some of us do

not care about why. We care about what. I fully agree with the gyst of an

earlier statement you made wherein you more or less claimed the Darkness

cares about the ends and not the means.

I am left to wonder just why it is you examine us so keenly in the wake of

your evident failures. One wonders why you aren't more keenly examining

just why it is, for example, the Light lost the bid on the second shard.

Was it perhaps greed? I certainly know hundreds of eggs were gathered for

the cause from, and I know this will be shocking, Althainians, Wrath and

even, horror of horrors, Gareth on our end through the simple process of

targetted marketing.

By the by, as you've been all to inquisitive towards the Darkness, I can

only hope you're open to answering questions posited as well. Was it more

dishonorable for the Darkness in the aforementioned timeframe to sell items

of war to their enemies for the purpose of achieving the end they were

commanded to, or was it more dishonorable for those of the Light, up to and

including those within Gareth, to purchase said items, giving their money to

the enemy for self gain instead of taking a step towards the freeing of a

Lord of Light? I look forward to your no doubt intellect raising response

and evne more so the dancing around the issue you'll no doubt achieve. As a

servant of Devion I always enjoy a good fib.

Love,

King Zayin Alchameth

Bishop of Devion's Church

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Caenarfon: The Parable of Two Divine Councils

Thu Oct 28 16:26:42 2010

To: Zayin Knighthood Shadow Imm Nadrik Necrucifer Storyline Religion Nazca Kyri all

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Bishop of Deceit,

I knew you would enjoy the parable, as the ego of Devion is central to it.

Its primary purpose was to show Algoron the intent of Evil gods, rather than

the popular picture they would paint for us thanks to those such as your

Evil self.

While my Lord is still imprisoned upon the Black Moon, I give credit for

putting aside the self-interest we are used to from Evil and coming together

for their common Good. Good has been out-maneuvered at every turn so far.

I am not sure of the lengths that evil has gone to secure these victories,

although getting to some of the outcomes have been imaginative.

But as to your question. Law drives Gareth, and knights are forbidden to

trade to those of evil. If they have done so they will be punished, from

the Page to the General. Gideon Bane knows this, he has felt it. Nadrik

tells us to speak only the truth, even if it leads to our death. So it

shall be that honor neither sells or buys from enemies in accordance with

the law. They are both infringe on our honor. Yet do not be surprised if

the word of a Bishop of Deceit is not taken seriously without proof.

You explain how Evil has sacrificed honor to win a day of finance. Good has

a harder path to tread, and the path is not meant for all. We do not

apologize for this, or offer it as an excuse.

Corwen, High Clerist