All Paths begin with the first step. Some are shown where to begin, some wander upon it by happenstance, and very very few start on it from before they realize there was ever a Path to begin with.
I was born a Miqo'te named J'rhiki Tia, child of J'talhdi Azih of the Fists of Rhalgr. Raised within one of the branch Temples of Rhalgr in the border of the Black Shroud and Abania Gyr. It served as a border guard in case of Gridanian approach, but mostly it was a Temple I was proud to call home. For as long as I remember, I had been surrounded by the Teachings of Rhalgr... and as many a curious youth, questioned them fervently to find out 'why'.
My mother had told me my first question was whether or not Rhalgr was a nice person. After all, breaking things was bad and got one punished with extra drills, so does this mean Rhalgr was a bad God who broke everything and made people sad? She had taken me upon her knee and smiled softly before pointing out the window to the sprawling Shroud in the distance. "My child, Destruction is a simple thing. A tool, a means to an end. Consider the Botanist. By cutting down trees and harvesting plants, he Destroys them, for those plants and trees will no longer grow. If he does so simply to Destroy wantonly, then this is a Bad Thing, and the spirits of the Forest would punish him alongside those who hold the forest dear. But, if he is instead doing so carefully, cutting what he only needs to build a house for his family and make medicines for those in need, then he is wielding Destruction benevolently.
We worship Rhalgr because he has these two sides. We pray to him because we recognize that we, too, have these two sides. As His Fists, we must show others that our Fists of Destruction can be used properly, else we will only tarnish our God's name. Do you understand?"
At the time, I only barely understood, but as the years went by my understanding grew. By my tenth year, the King of Ruin, Theodoric, announced his Nymeian Claim. When the Main Temple was under attack, all the senior Monks, my mother included, left to give reinforcement to those trapped within. Somehow sensing her own Destruction, she had gifted me a set of plain clothes, some of the Teachings of the Order, and sent me off to the Shroud in the diorection of the Sanctum of the Twelve alongside many of the other trainees and one of the supervising Monks as a guard. Should things go well, she would send word for us to return.
I already understood what it meant if word never came.
And so were we one of the firsts refugees of Ala Mhigo. Due to Rhalgr's Benevolence and the skills we learned, we were able to make it to the Sanctum with few problems, and while reserved, the priesthood within allowed us Refuge.With little else to do, we resumed our training as we waited for word.Â
.... Sadly, the only word that reached us was of the Main Temple's loss. While a part of me understood this, I was still a child... and thus did my grief join the chorus of wails that echoed within the hallowed halls of the Sanctum.
Many of us wanted to deny this as truth, older ones cried for revenge. Myself? I curled up in my room and held tightly to the teachings my Mother left to me, the only memento aside from my memories that I would ever have of her.
Days past where all I did was pour over the Teachings like a lifeline, hoping that somehow, some way, I would find something more to connect to my fallen mother. After all, our entire life was devoted to training in the Way of the Fist together, and while I knew my mother's day-to-day personality, I knew nothing of why she was a Fist, of what it meant to be a Miqo'te of the J Clan. What was a Keeper of the Sun? To this end, teachings in hand, I wanted to find out. Announcing my intentions, I left the Sanctum of the Twelve to seek out my History.
This was the first step towards my Path of Benevolent Destruction... for only by seeking out the History I didn't know would I be able to Destroy the shackles that unknown History bound me with.
I was born a Miqo'te named J'rhiki Tia, child of J'talhdi Azih of the Fists of Rhalgr. Raised within one of the branch Temples of Rhalgr in the border of the Black Shroud and Abania Gyr. It served as a border guard in case of Gridanian approach, but mostly it was a Temple I was proud to call home. For as long as I remember, I had been surrounded by the Teachings of Rhalgr... and as many a curious youth, questioned them fervently to find out 'why'.
My mother had told me my first question was whether or not Rhalgr was a nice person. After all, breaking things was bad and got one punished with extra drills, so does this mean Rhalgr was a bad God who broke everything and made people sad? She had taken me upon her knee and smiled softly before pointing out the window to the sprawling Shroud in the distance. "My child, Destruction is a simple thing. A tool, a means to an end. Consider the Botanist. By cutting down trees and harvesting plants, he Destroys them, for those plants and trees will no longer grow. If he does so simply to Destroy wantonly, then this is a Bad Thing, and the spirits of the Forest would punish him alongside those who hold the forest dear. But, if he is instead doing so carefully, cutting what he only needs to build a house for his family and make medicines for those in need, then he is wielding Destruction benevolently.
We worship Rhalgr because he has these two sides. We pray to him because we recognize that we, too, have these two sides. As His Fists, we must show others that our Fists of Destruction can be used properly, else we will only tarnish our God's name. Do you understand?"
At the time, I only barely understood, but as the years went by my understanding grew. By my tenth year, the King of Ruin, Theodoric, announced his Nymeian Claim. When the Main Temple was under attack, all the senior Monks, my mother included, left to give reinforcement to those trapped within. Somehow sensing her own Destruction, she had gifted me a set of plain clothes, some of the Teachings of the Order, and sent me off to the Shroud in the diorection of the Sanctum of the Twelve alongside many of the other trainees and one of the supervising Monks as a guard. Should things go well, she would send word for us to return.
I already understood what it meant if word never came.
And so were we one of the firsts refugees of Ala Mhigo. Due to Rhalgr's Benevolence and the skills we learned, we were able to make it to the Sanctum with few problems, and while reserved, the priesthood within allowed us Refuge.With little else to do, we resumed our training as we waited for word.Â
.... Sadly, the only word that reached us was of the Main Temple's loss. While a part of me understood this, I was still a child... and thus did my grief join the chorus of wails that echoed within the hallowed halls of the Sanctum.
Many of us wanted to deny this as truth, older ones cried for revenge. Myself? I curled up in my room and held tightly to the teachings my Mother left to me, the only memento aside from my memories that I would ever have of her.
Days past where all I did was pour over the Teachings like a lifeline, hoping that somehow, some way, I would find something more to connect to my fallen mother. After all, our entire life was devoted to training in the Way of the Fist together, and while I knew my mother's day-to-day personality, I knew nothing of why she was a Fist, of what it meant to be a Miqo'te of the J Clan. What was a Keeper of the Sun? To this end, teachings in hand, I wanted to find out. Announcing my intentions, I left the Sanctum of the Twelve to seek out my History.
This was the first step towards my Path of Benevolent Destruction... for only by seeking out the History I didn't know would I be able to Destroy the shackles that unknown History bound me with.
I walk the Path of Benevolent Destruction.
My Strength will shatter bonds, limitations and barriers, so that others may walk and grow in my wake.
And at the End of my Path, I pray Rhalgr allows others with strength greater than my own to continue to branch my Path with their own.
Until all may freely grow and walk without fear of Destruction.
To all who stand in my way...
Rhalgr's Peace be with you as you become yet another stepping stone in my Path.
My Strength will shatter bonds, limitations and barriers, so that others may walk and grow in my wake.
And at the End of my Path, I pray Rhalgr allows others with strength greater than my own to continue to branch my Path with their own.
Until all may freely grow and walk without fear of Destruction.
To all who stand in my way...
Rhalgr's Peace be with you as you become yet another stepping stone in my Path.
