THE PATH OF DAWN

[Pepto 677]

 

 

  

 

 

FROM THE FIEFDOM OF GARENBRIG

 

 

PENNED ON THE 8th OF SUN'S SMILE, YEAR 230 OF THE SECOND AGE

Long has the descendant of Horen struggled with the plight of morality, of purpose, and belonging. Wayward souls often find themselves amongst the droves of lesser men. At best, mercenaries, and at worst, servants of Iblees. A dire circumstance, brought upon by a lack of guidance. A lack of light.

To this end, does the Order of Dawn set forth this path, dubbed the “Path of Dawn”, so that these such souls, be they penitent, lost, without purpose, or desperate, can find a place within the world, and within GOD’s light, in service to the greater good and the Church.

This is by all means, the path of a Crusader. A champion of HIM ON HIGH. It requires patience, compassion, discipline, strength, wisdom and above all else, faith.

 

 

TRIALS

 

The path of Dawn is a series of Trials, taken at one’s own pace. The purpose of such is to test the qualities listed above. Each trial may be repeated in the case of failure. To fail is to learn, and it is not the end.

 

 

The Trial of Loyalty

 

The first step upon the path of Dawn, is to devote oneself to service. As this path is written and set out by the Order of Dawn, the service one swears to is, of course, to the Order of Dawn, and by extension, Garenbrig Numendil, and the Church.

Thus, the Trial of Loyalty is to prove said Loyalty through military service as an Initiate of the Order. Once completed, an oath shall be sworn to the Order of Dawn. The Initiate shall be promoted and taken on as a fully-fledged Man-at-Arms, and shall be sent to swear the Oath of Tar-Numenatar.

 

The Trial of Faith

The second step upon the path of Dawn is to accept HIS light, and to not only know of his word, but to understand it. One must study the scrolls, those of Virtue, Spirit, and Gospel. Upon completion of these studies, when one thinks themselves to be ready, they shall be tested upon the knowledge of the scroll of Spirit specifically, due to its importance in the life of many a crusader.

One may converse with anyone, be they priest or layman, upon the contents of the scrolls, should they find it helpful within their studies.


 

The Trial of Wisdom

 

The third step is to train and test the mind. It is all well and good, for a soldier to swing their sword with vigor, though the strength of the arm can only take one so far. Indeed has it become increasingly popular for servants of the dark to make use of complex mechanisms, magics, locks and labyrinths to hide their machinations from our sight. However, as servants of GOD, we are extensions of HIS hand. Thus, light shall be brought to every dark corner of the world;

Who shall escape His sight? All things live and perish before Him, and even the mountains are but shifting dunes in His eye. What iniquity shall you hide?

This trial consists of two halves. One, to test wit, and one to test perception.

The first test comes in the form of three riddles. Each riddle is given upon request by a Knight of Dawn, with the answer being represented by a singular object. The subject of the trial must leave and return to said knight with said object.

The second test is to have a Knight of Dawn accompany oneself to infiltrate a lair. It is said within the Order that beneath every acre of land, there exists a hole in which the wicked hide. To purge the heretic, one must delve to their depths, and show them the light they hide from so readily. Thus, one must display prowess at entering the darker corners of the earth, to prove that the eye is sharp, and the mind ready.

 

 

The Trial of Courage

 

 

To conquer oneself is to conquer all. To conquer the self, the self must overcome its fear. The Trial of Courage is undertaken under the supervision of a Knight of Dawn, to which the trial’s subject shall admit their deepest fear. The Knight shall then set the trial’s subject upon a task, in which they shall be subjected and exposed to said fear, in a manner in which it can be overcome. This trial can often be the easiest, or the hardest, depending on one’s bravery, or perhaps stupidity.

 

The Trial of Strength

 

The Trial of Strength is a rite of which many descendants undergo, be they Templar, Druid, professional soldier, or mere levyman. Indeed, throughout history, it has become increasingly important that a descendant of Horen should be able to hold their own against the gravest of threats. One needn’t be blessed by a deity, mutated by alchemicals, laden with relics or touched by darker powers to overcome the servants of Iblees. Nay, the strength and wisdom of man is more than enough. If one cannot survive without the aid of such boons, then one is not deserving of them.

This trial is undertaken under the supervision of a Knight of Dawn. The trial’s subject must first pick out a quarry using the Bestia Conlectia literature, written and scribed by the Lectorate of Owyn, as these studies are not only widely available, but considered by the Order to be the finest examples of efficient documentation regarding Darkspawn and their weaknesses.

Once a quarry has been chosen, the subject must then, either in a fair bout of combat, or simply alone, defeat an example of said quarry. Should the subject find another example of Darkspawn and fell it whilst hunting their original quarry, evidence of this may be acceptable, depending on the Knight, instead of the originally chosen prey.

 

The Trial of Resolve

 

The Trial of Resolve is the final step upon the Path of Dawn. When the trial’s subject believes themselves to be ready, and all other trials have been passed to the satisfaction of at least one Knight of Dawn, then they may set out upon pilgrimage. They must travel, alone, starting at dusk, through the Kingswood of Numendil. No light shall be taken, no artifice, no food and no water. At the heart of the Kingswood, they must rest at the Cross of Dawn, though they may not slumber.

 

A fire must be tended to there, throughout the night, until the sun’s light shines through the trees and banishes the darkness about the pilgrim. It is this light that they shall carry with them throughout their lives, within their very soul, to which no darkness can befall it, unless said darkness is taken in willingly. To this end, would the pilgrim be false, and face the punishment of both GOD and man.

 

BAPTISM

Upon completion of these trials, the subject is baptised, if not already so. This marks the true end of Dawn’s trials, though the Path of Dawn continues ever-onward, until the Light taken upon the Pilgrim is returned to the Seven Skies.