[Philosophy] The Way of Malin

[Minuvas 3193]

 

 

The Way of Malin

And his teachings

 

  I - oem

My Backstory

 

sirame ito kae'leh, nae oroment, llir'Malinor. It is my role as teacher and mentor of the way of Malin, to pass on this knowledge to Almaris greater. Before I detail what has been revealed to me, I would start with a personal story of my own discovery. I lived for nearly three quarters of a century within the Imperial Valah lands, having been exposed to only the most cursory nature of my own cultural identity for a long time. Suppressed to me, wilfully by other Mali and by the ignorance of the Valah. I had, even for a time, risen to the highest pinnacles of human society - leading the Valah as their Archchancellor. It is around this time that I came to my first personal revelation, for a Mali leading Valah is unnatural and wholly unsuited to our purpose. I was a Canonist at this time, yet often felt the Valah God did not truly give purpose to me - this understanding grew even more as I watched the Canonist institution wielded like a weapon against the Valah, by themselves, and realized it could no longer reveal the full truth about Malin to me.

It was around my seventh decade of life that I came upon the teachings of the Malin’Onn. The sons of Malin, the first formalized adherents to the philosophical living known as ‘The way of Malin’. This discovery was not easy, Malin’onn history is difficult to uncover - its very nature of existence has been suppressed by Mali and Valah alike. Yet this discovery began a journey of pondering what I came to know as Malin’s five instructions, my departure from Canonist adherence and the embracing of the philosophical belief of the way of Malin. I departed these old duties and beliefs, and now focus fully on the unity of the Elven people to our Father’s way.

I am sure there are  many great and ancient Elven houses, Seeds and clans that lament that a Mali born in Valah lands has come to hear his message so clear - yet I tell my story because it shows that the disparate Elves of Almaris , cannot be robbed of their connection to their Father - no matter where geography, or their parentage has brought them. All Elves can, and should, seek to live as their Father did. All Elves, Malin. I seek always to enhance his revelations, looking to those ancient Mali whose centuries of knowledge could enlighten our understanding of our Father's teachings.

 

 

 

II -niut

What is the way of Malin

 

Malin Lives!  

In its simplest terms, the way of Malin is the belief that by adhering to the five instructions - our Father, Malin, of whom all Elves are descended, will return to us as King to unite Elfdom. All subraces may co-exist, not subsumed by any one belief, other than through their common understanding to live as Malin did. Adherents to the way of Malin believe that unlike the other original sons, Malin still lives in Heaven, who is very real and powerful and working on this realm.

The way of Malin does ascribes to Malin the status of God. He is the most powerful and only immortal son. Known to have wielded amazing powers of magic and the aspects, Malin has and will bestow gifts on those he deems worthy. 

 

Adherents to the way of Malin understand that although Malin is the perfect Mali, he was not flawless. He was known to have committed errors, resolved only through the community of his children. It is also said that of all the sons, Malin loved his children the greatest. Thus, the basis of the way of Malin, the inseparable bond between child and parent. Just as our own father’s may be flawed, this does not make them any less models of their good virtues. Just as our own children as they come of age and go into the world must learn, neither has Father Malin fully abandoned us.

 

Who-is-Who

 

The Nameless Bronze. These are Mali, or Tali’Mali, who voluntarily stripped themselves of their names and become fanatic adherents to the way of Malin. Some choose to do so as penance for punishment. For the Half-Elves, service in the Nameless Bronze is considered a method of purification to enhance their kinship with Malin, and to cast aside their blood of the other descendants. The Nameless Bronze are often called to enforce Malin’s will by force, where life expectancy is low, the risk is high, rewarded and showered by the community with respect, bronze, and gifts upon their tours. Any individual who completes their tour in ‘The Nameless Bronze’ is given a status of immense reverence, and voting authority in the conclave of the Ebonwood.

 

The Unaware. These are Mali, once like myself, who lived in ignorance of Malin’s way. They are not explicitly a threat to the way of Malin, as they usually do not promote the active dissent against his teachings.

The Deniers. These are Mali who know of Malin’s teachings but refuse to adhere to them for whatever reason. Hearing of, seeing and reading Malin’s teachings does not mean one knows them. Thus, only a very rare few are actually deemed in denial. They are an active threat to Malin’s return, and may need to be ceremoniously removed if they cannot be redeemed.

 

The Adherent. These are every day Mali of Almaris aware of Malin’s way, and seek to ponder his instructions and to assist in his return. They come from many walks of life, many creeds, faiths, and national identities.

The Reclaimers. These scholars dedicate their lives to recovering the works of Malin and Elven cultures. Artifacts, books, and other tools and items that are reclaimed are studied extensively to determine Malin’s Will.

The saneyir. The Speaker of Malin, the philosophical head of the way of Malin. Is the only one who may determine revelation by personal reflection.

 

What is revelation

 

The way of Malin, though simple in concept, is complex and difficult in practice. This is an immensely difficult task, to attempt to contemplate how Malin wishes us to live - an immortal Father who has not spoken directly to us in near 1,000 years. We determine how Father Malin would have liked us to live out the five instructions through Revelation, which comes in one of two ways. Conclave, our by a gathering of Mali and by Personal-Reflection, the deliberate philosophical meditations of the saneyir of the Malin’onn. For residents of the Ebonwood, and adherents to the way of Malin, a revelation is a universal truth and law for how Malin would wish us to live. Elder Mali, in particular, are granted particular attention when they speak. However, we must recognize that Malin’s will is not always manifest in Mali simply because they have lived a long time. The act of breathing air and turning food into waste is not something alone that grants reverence, but a life of industriousness.

 

 

 

 

Many Creeds, Many Beliefs

The way of Malin is a religion though its structure is fluid, it shares some fundamental similarities to faiths across Almaris. However, the way of Malin is compatible to some extent with all of the major creeds among Elfdom. Even those deemed highly incompatible may find ways to incorporate the way of Malin to enlighten those creeds from within.  With the Wild Faith being the closest to Malin’s teachings, and the philosophical exclusivism of maehr’sae hiylun’ehya being the furthest, save for Canonism. A brief synopsis of the inclusivity of each creed is listed below, but the most important understanding is:

“There is no King but Malin” - each creed can encourage us to mimic our Father, and should bring us closer to him.

The Wild Faith, The Aspects, the Druii: It is recorded that Malin himself consorted with the aspects, and worked with the natural world. An adherent to the way of Malin and the Wild Faith would likely seek ways to make nature work for the community as a whole, creating a more symbiotic relationship. Malin’s law on altars however, is a stark warning of trusting in the aspects too much and remaining humble to grasp for such raw unknown power.The Archdruids served on Malin’s council and advised him directly before the departure of Lariheis flock. This faith is considered highly compatible.

Ker Ancestor Worship & The Spirits: Malin, our greatest ancestor, is to be revered. He is not dead, therefore he cannot bestow spiritual abilities. Ancestor Worshipers who ascribe to the way of Malin would find this faith to be highly compatible, though Malin would take on a less historical prominence and more of a behavioral idealism. This faith is considered highly compatible.

 

Wyrvun,Fin’hesin and the Deep Cold: Malin is known to have turned to Aenguls and powers of the divine to turn away the forces of Ibleese with his brothers. An adherent to the way of Malin would have no issue acknowledging neither the power, nor the divinity of the Aengul called ‘Wyrvun’ nor deny whatever power this deity might bestow and would actively encourage using those powers to achieve boons and understanding towards the five instructions. They might ask how Wyrvun could restore glory to Malin’s people.  Conflict would emerge, however, if a Malin adherent were to believe Wyrvun’s system of worship to be the ultimate goal of Mali existence. Because of the duality of supremacy of who to idol for their behavior, an Aengul or Malin, only the most scholarly and well read adherents would be able rationally explain their belief in both systems - and not end up being labeled hostile towards either. This faith is considered highly incompatible.

 

maehr’sae hiylun’ehya: From the great Kingdom of Malin itself, the aheral of Lariheis flock were at odds with Malin’s teachings. This philosophical belief is not impossible to reconcile with the way of Malin, but is highly difficult. They share ideals in the uplifting of Elven society as a whole, promote industrious elven behavior - but their similarities often end there. Believers of the way of Malin are pan-elvenists who emphasize the commonality of Elves, not their exclusive differences amongst each other. This belief system is considered highly incompatible.

 

Canonism: Malin is a prominent feature in this faith, but primarily as a supporting role to the Valah Horen. This is not considered a faith of Mali people, but we would be ignorant to not recognize it has been absorbed by a large body of his people. Canonism does preach the druidic aspects of Mali kind and an inheritance of Almaris by the Elves in end times, however, it gives a weakened and secondary nature to the immortal children of the immortal father - failing to recognize the importance of Malin. It places a God at the ultimate pinnacle of modeling over Malin. This faith, above all others,  is considered highly incompatible.

 

The Five Instructions

Reverence - Community-Humility-Temperance-Industry

The five instructions serve as the template of contemplation and pursuit to live as Malin did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[satin 7600]

ChildTea glances over the missive, snorting. If an Imperial Elf truly believes he can dictate the ways of elves across Almaris, he's got another thing coming.. though he makes some good points.

[High_On_Math 449]

"Deniers are an active threat to Malin's return, and may need to be ceremoniously removed if they cannot be redeemed."

For the first time in her life, Luthriel felt alien to her elvish half.  In her heart, she thanked Godan for blessing her with at least one human parent.

"It seems," She muttered, "from my experience, that the only way for an elf to come to belief in God is through a rare miracle.  There . . ." She pauses, "there must be some sort of second curse on elves making them want to worship creations rather than The Creator.  Mali kind is . . . Hopeless."

She closed her eye and muttered a quote from Gandalf, "It is in men that we must place our hope." 

In a sudden rage, she began penning a letter to a Cannonist friend

"Minuvas has said that Cannonism is basically incompatible with Malinism and that Mali who stand firm in their denial of Malinism may need to be executed. . ."

In a karen-esque touch, she added, "They placed me in housing that was then assigned to become an ancestors shrine. They used bloody eminent domain to take a Cannonist's dwelling and turn it into a place of pagan worship.  They bloody obviously did this on purpose.  I'd ask to speak to their manager, but he's probably dead or at least he's never around."

@KaiserJacobII

[lavenderwax 31]

Aver'wyn reads the missive, humming in general agreement with Minuvas' statements. Upon reaching the note about cannonism, she frowns, "Akalonn will not be happy about this. I hope this does not deter him from returning home." She tilts her head, finishing the missive and returning to go about her day.

[critter 2812]

Wynanya sat in the Nevaehlen bar, a cigarette in one hand, the missive in the other. She sighed; choking on the smoke, in the process.

 

"Right," she said, setting it aside with a sideways glance at the large karin observing her. "-Well. Good thing I never did get that baptism, huh, Cat?"

[Buffsanta 961]

Lord Hieran nods slowly as he reads over it 

"Bloody good writing Minuvas"

He'd mention in passing

"I do like a good cult."

[Operator_Bugman 347]

Orin Ve'lvenest clapped his hands together with joy,

"A good thing the Red Faith was not included in this list, otherwise I might have had to actually worry for once."

[Chopper774 30]

Akalonn would grit his teeth as he read the missive, upon finishing it he would tear it in half, and would throw it into the fireplace. "After all that the blessings we have received." Kal would shake his head, as he would clutch his Lorriane, he would then say a short prayer, as a tear would fall from his eye.

 

OOC: Great post Minuvas!