Objectives of the Way

Primary discussion[1]:
There are commonalities between the seven Virtues which the false virtues, as far as we know them, do not all share. If this is accurate, it is reasonable to assume that these strong evidences for meta-virtues/values can help us decide whether other ‘virtues’ or similar effects are useful in crossing the labyrinth.

ASSUMPTION:

That while there may have been political reasoning behind changes to the Doctrine of Seven, there was also sufficient evidence given to the Synod at the time to demonstrate the value of the True Virtues in and of themselves.

POSIT:

There are core consistencies within the True Virtues which are not there in False; vide: they are all active (demanding that the follower do something), internal (needing no external cue or trigger for action) processes (requiring that the follower choose their objective themselves).

These all fundamentally support the qualities required to act in a situation wherein one has incomplete knowledge and no clear way of finding more – such as a maze, or labyrinth.

Anointing
All these auras suggest that the seven Virtues of the Way have, as commonalities, the drive to act (Self/Others), the necessity of an internal decision (Choice) and the tools to find our own way (Process).

False Virtues
With my deepest gratitude to Fr. Martin Orchard, and Medea Ruth Irremais, what information I have on False Virtue Anointings set out below. Any more that others know of, I would be glad to learn and set out as warning.

We can see that these follow a broadly similar theme; but where True Virtues are active internal processes, here, Purity is static; Vengeance requires an external object or action.

Consecration
Ambition: Dare Do All

You have a profound sense of destiny - of what can ultimately be accomplished by you if you strive for it. You feel nothing is beyond your reach.

Courage: The Sticking Place

You have a profound sense of conviction, an urge to do what you believe is right. You feel certain that you can change the world.

Loyalty: A Peerless Kinship

You have a profound sense that service to a person or cause is truly worthy. Nothing extraordinary is achieved without sacrifice.

Pride: Partner of Greatness

You feel a profound sense of self-esteem, that who you are and what you do is significant. You are the foundation on which the future will be built.

Prosperity: Neither Beg Nor Fear

You feel a profound sense of fulfillment from all your hard work has achieved. You feel no reward is beyond your reach if you strive for it.

Vigilance: In Deepest Consequence

You feel a profound desire to protect the things you truly care for. You know your decisions are crucial to ensure their safety.

Wisdom: Dagger of the Mind

You have a profound sense that nothing is impossible. You feel you can solve any problem if you ask the right question.

''These have all a consistent theme of empowerment, encouragement and determination. They are rarely restful, but instead inspirational and dynamic. ''

False Virtues
Purity: The Stagnant Jail

This aura makes you feel the area is clean, and nothing should change or despoil it.

(It has been described as very similar to auras created by the Eternal Ylenrith. (There is a possibility this may be a misidentified Day aura used by a cult. The consecration has also been described as “force of will”) – MO)

Anarchy (Freedom, Liberty, Chaos): The Whims of Chaos

This aura makes you feel a strong disregard for rules and a desire to disobey or ignore them.

Vengeance: The Cycle of Pain.

You feel every wrong that has been done to you like it is a raw, open wound.

“Understanding” (Peace?):

You feel an urge to come to a compromise with those in conversation with you.

(recollection by VdeC; laid on the Imperial Offices by an Axou representative)

''Only the Peace aura gives a call to action; and that action is specifically compromise, blend, yield…  A ‘desire’ to disobey laws which will fade when leaving the area seems strangely unhelpful. Vengeance, again, is a call to react to the past, where Virtue bids us look to the past for lessons, learn and move on.''

Hallowing[3]
Throughout, note that Hallowing names have changed over time – while these are associated with specific paragons/exemplars, they were not always so linked.

Secondary evidence: The tenets of Virtue
These are specifically discussions and considerations of what the Virtues mean, rather than how they relate to Doctrine. These are our predecessors’ thoughts on what the Auras have taught them and what they can teach us.

Questions: Are any of these lessons in conflict with the Auras? Are they all fit for purpose? What do they mean within the context of the Way of Virtue? I believe they all show a similar understanding of each Virtue – but is this because they were structured in that way deliberately, decided together by the Assembly General or the Nine, or is this because each Virtue Assembly considered and found this separately?

''[Do we have any information from foreign Nations who follow different Virtues as to what their Virtuous tenets are? If not, can we ask the Imperial Chaplain Consular to start collecting these?]''

Secondary evidence: Doctrine[4]
Doctrine is set out as our best case understanding of the truths of the Way and of the goal of humanity (originally) and intelligence (as is). While we have no evidence as to what the first Doctrine set out was, and if and when any changes have been made since its creation, we must assume that the General Synod that currently exists is a reasonable model for historical Synods – that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs; that changes to Doctrine will be the subject of scrutiny, argument and bargaining.

One of the arguments often made is that “The True Virtues were chosen politically”; as if this is both feasible and also undesirable. To the first – look around at Synod’s response to Yael’s “Revelation”, and to the Bonewall Orcs’ propositions – one failed and one successful change of Doctrine in our time. Both of these were the subject of massive political and spiritual discussion; and both of them succeeded and failed on primarily Virtuous, not solely non-Synod political, grounds. (Hywel Summer Crow suggests that they were instead massively affected by social and societal will - that Yael's "Revelation" was a deliberately controversial, and the Bonewall's Orc Doctrines deliberately non-controversial pieces of work.)

As such, I am taking as a baseline assumption that the below Doctrines were set out by the General Assembly and agreed consistently by generations of priests because they have some spiritual value to us; and because our ancestors – our past selves – were at least as cynical as we are, and did test these propositions.

The Doctrine of Reincarnation
The Doctrine of Reincarnation states:

''The human spirit is immortal. It inhabits mortal flesh for a span within the world before being liberated again, having gained knowledge and enlightenment. It traverses the Labyrinth of Ages before returning to mortal life through new birth.''

The Doctrine is underpinned by discovery and analysis of pure liao which, it has been concluded, provides visions of a person’s past lives. This is further supported by the discovery of archaeological evidence that matches the content of some liao visions.

This doctrine sets out the reason for the Empire’s nominally expansionist philosophy – as we reincarnate, we can offer no guarantee where we will reincarnate (cf Marad of House Ogudai of the Faraden, True Liao vision in Summer 379, of having been a Freeborn), and therefore a strong argument to spread the Way of Virtue – we are working for the betterment of our future selves and of all humanity.

The Doctrine of Human Destiny
The Doctrine of Human Destiny states:

''Only human spirits reincarnate, therefore humans are the greatest of all beings in creation for only human spirits gain strength, knowledge and enlightenment through rebirth. The paragons not only personify Virtue but the full potential of humanity.''

This Doctrine is underpinned by the discovery liao has no effect on orcs and, by assumed extension, other non-human beings. Additionally, it is also broadly accepted that the miracles and achievements attained by the paragons are deemed to be superhuman in nature and the eventual destiny of all virtuous humans.

See Clarice Novarion for comments. This originally gave the Nations of the Empire a further spur to respond to aggression from our nearest neighbours.

The Doctrine of Seven
The Doctrine of Seven states:

''There are seven Virtues that guide the spirit through the Labyrinth of Ages. These are Ambition, Courage, Loyalty, Pride, Prosperity, Vigilance and Wisdom. Other qualities may benefit humanity, but lend no aid through the passage of death to rebirth, and some may hinder it.''

This Doctrine is underpinned by extensive study of legends, relics, pure liao visions and priestly ceremonies to determine the truth and power of qualities. The seven Virtues are acknowledged as the consistent recurring pattern and proof of paragonhood and exemplardom. A byproduct of this Doctrine is that some figures of note were dismissed as being false paragons. The law of blasphemy was introduced to protect citizens from the teachings of false paragons.

The argument that this Doctrine has been politically adapted to suit the strengths of the Empire has been discussed broadly; and we know the specific wording of this has changed since the codification of the Way (cf Adelina Barossa, now Lina of Felix’s Watch, True Liao vision in Spring 381).

I argue here that even if this Doctrine has been shaped by political will, these Virtues are helpful to humanity as a whole, the Empire as an entity, and individuals who follow the Way of Virtue – be they human or not. I think it is possible indeed to answer “why these virtues?” – to say that the personal strengths that they foster are such that we will, by learning their lessons, improve our own chances of success in our objectives.

The Doctrine of The Paragons
The Doctrine of The Paragons states:

''A truly virtuous spirit, one who is a paragon of Virtue, is capable of freeing itself from the Labyrinth of Ages through transcendence. A paragon spirit can be identified for having completed at least six of the eight signs of the paragon, after which it can be recognised by the Imperial Synod.''

The Doctrine is underpinned by the belief that some of the most virtuous spirits in history have never been the subject of a past life vision. The signs of the paragon were devised as a series of tests to ascertain which were true paragons and which were exemplars. The Doctrine of the Paragons is an extension of the Doctrine of Human Destiny.

This gives us an immortal objective; to make ourselves capable of ascension through our efforts. It does not assume that all will be capable of this immediate, but it does give us scope to work and a broader goal to consider.

The Doctrine of the Creator
The Doctrine of the Creator states:

''Human destiny is our own. The Creator, whose hand can be seen in all patterns of nature, seeks no dominance of, control over or communion with human spirits.''

This Doctrine stems from the principle of seeing design in the patterns of creation, and prompted several experimental theological attempts to contact the Creator. The most common results of such experiments have been silence, which has been taken as proof neither one way or the other. A small number of experiments have resulted in the scholars involved losing their sanity from which mixed conclusions have been drawn. Some have held that the Creator Spirit is currently of a nature beyond comprehension – save, perhaps, by a Paragon or Exemplar – whilst others maintain that the strain of effort was too great.

Functionally, this Doctrine sets out clearly: do not seek to give over decision making to another power. It is our responsibility as it is our right to take and hold this destiny of ours. The lure of “a god, or an eternal, or a monster, told me to do this thing and therefore I must comply” is so sweet and tempting at times, and this Doctrine reinforces our spirits against that threat. We have no need of a godhead, and we have in our power and in our will the capacity to define our own destiny.

The Doctrine of the Labyrinth
The Doctrine of the Labyrinth states:

''The Labyrinth of Ages is a place of pure spirit and beyond the true comprehension of any but a paragon. Flesh and blood may not enter, only that which is of spirit may traverse into and out of it, and it has no peer.''

The Doctrine of the Labyrinth was created by the Synod as a response to two, quite different, beliefs. It asserts the reality of the Labyrinth of Ages from those who doubt its existence, or believe it to be metaphor. It also seeks to refute the teaching of Realmists who speculate that the Labyrinth is a magical realm akin to day or night.

This is a Doctrine saying clearly “we have looked into this and here are our conclusions. Do not waste your time on this unless you have a better idea for how to investigate it,” and in this, it gives us freedom to move on and focus our powers and efforts on this life and the next, rather than the space between them. It is reasonable, I think, to listen to any who have a good way of testing this Doctrine for their plans; but unless any have more than idle speculation, this says simple, “We have tried to put our living selves through the doorway and failed or not returned; there are better things to think about.”

The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss
The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss states:

''Orcs live only one life. After death, the orcish soul either is lost to the Howling Abyss or crosses it to become an Ancestor who can guide and advise living orcs.''

The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss was created by the Synod during the Symposium of Revelation during the Winter Solstice 380YE. It was proposed by the Imperial Orc preacher Bonewall Rek, and accepted by the General Assembly as part of an attempt to better understand the nature of the orc soul, and the place of the Imperial Orcs in the Way. The Howling Abyss is a feature of orc belief shared by both the Imperial Orcs and the barbarians, as far as is understood.

A simple statement of fact, supported by what evidence the Imperial Orcs have; this gives us a foundation to explore from if any are minded to, and sets out a foundation in contrast to the Doctrine of Human Destiny.

The Doctrine of the Ancestors
The Doctrine of the Ancestors states:

''To cross the Howling Abyss an orc must be known for their deeds. Though there may be other ways to cross, embracing the Seven Virtues leads an orc to the Great and Inspiring deeds that make an Ancestor and a Virtuous Ancestor can guide future generations on the Way.''

As with the Doctrine of the Howling Abyss, the Doctrine of the Ancestors was created during the Symposium of Revelation. It was proposed by Bonewall Cole, and supported by the General Assembly. The belief in ancestor spirits is a key feature of the beliefs of many orcs, both Imperial and barbarian.

It seems cheap to say “belief in” ancestor spirits when those spirits literally howl in the ears of the orcs. We might as well say we believe in the wind. One of the reasons we look to the raw information of the Way of Virtue now is to see how it stands up to testing; and knowing that orcs feel that their souls can respond to and appreciate Virtue means we can test the Way with new and different methods to those which our ancestors and past selves used.

[1] Broader discussion: There is an underlying logical and evidence-based structure to Doctrine, which, while we may have lost that evidence, can be reasoned back to and onward from. It is not solely a political construct. (Corollary: over 400 years of discussion means that it shouldn’t be treated as a monolith.)

Meta discussion: The Way of Virtue is a way of thinking to train the mind and spirit, and focussing on that training is more valuable than following Doctrine blindly.

[2] These will never change as far as we are aware; so it is reasonable to assume that these are one of the key evidences of the Way of Virtue. The other key evidences are Past Life Visions and miracles – historical Hallowed artefacts still remain, but we lost writings in Nicovar’s purges &c. Considering all of the information in the Echoes of the Gateway is beyond this specific document, but if any do have the time, inclination and skill to do this, I would be very interested in a timeline of all that we know.

[3] Apropos of nothing; I was surprised to see that there are different numbers of Hallowings available to different Virtues. While names have changed, do we have any clear evidence of the creation of new Hallows, or the loss of old ones?

[4] I note Clarice Novarion’s writings; I am not writing this to argue over whether Doctrine is correct, but that it was created in good faith as guidance with the best information that history had available. I am strongly in favour of changing Doctrine if and as long as we have sufficient proof to change our minds. Virtue demands, in fact, that we be capable of adapting, changing and growing. Holding on to the past purely because it is tradition is one of the greatest threats to the Way of Virtue and to the manifest destiny of this our Empire of the Way.