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A hour or so following the end of the seminar, copies of the speech read during the seminar are available in the Triadic Temple, placed there by one Lady Ashlynn Lenneson. If asked during her placement of the parchment, or around Kohlingen, she would comment about how the Seminar went very well, and how enlightening it was, she may also comment on another seminar happening in the future.
The copies of the speech read as follows:
"In my experience on Amia and the surrounding regions and Islands, the title of “Paladin” is misunderstood- not only by those whom we interact with, because as we know as people, there is tension between people with differing positions in life and in faith.
I do not mean tension as hostility, but as a stressed and taut. Imagine this tension as a tight thread between you and another, and you will see the caution that must be exerted when dealing with people. This thread represents a person’s natural resistance and reluctance to changing what they know, and this tension is something we face every day, because as people we are morally diverse. This is true among us as well, because before we are paladins, we are people. Our code calls for us, in line eight, to “Pay homage to life living freely and allowing others to do the same.”
At times, I think we forget that taking on a faith and accepting a lord or lady is a conscious choice, and one we cannot make for them. We cannot shove our faith, as strong as it may be while living within us, down their throats, for not only will they not accept this in their hearts, we will break this oath by exerting ourselves over the choices in their life.
This is not to say we will ignore their sins, nor turn a blind eye to their evil actions; but instead, we should offer our guidance and aid, for often times, sin is an addiction; whether tangible or intangible. We are not tolerating evil by picking and choosing our battles, and by making appropriate use of the time we have been blessed with by our patron. After all, our judgment as a divinely inspired being is our greatest asset, for there-in lays our direction of morality.
Using the term judgment, and then reading line two of our Code which reads: “Judge not others.By judging others, you yourself are judged,” is often one of the things we are paladins are picked at about by people we are at tension with.
However, going back to how we are divinely inspired people, we are also ambassadors of our patron’s will and edicts on this world, and we should exude this in our actions, in our walk, in our speech, and our hearts; for this should be the basis of any thoughts we harbor, and as a result, we are informing the people of this world of the truth we are familiar with, not condemning because they are unaware.
To put my last sentence into perspective, are we to be judged by unknowingly committing an act of evil? We should hope not, and be grateful of our patrons to allow us to not be judged by the acts we commit without proper knowledge. It is my belief that we should act in this manner towards those so uninformed. This is a way we may bring light to the darkness, and we may be blessed, as our Code so calls us. The way we react to people is important in our spreading of our patron’s edicts, but also in our personal walk in faith.
Line 12 of our Code declares, “Not Pride, Humility. Not Greed, Generosity. Not Envy, Love. Not Wrath, Kindness. Not Lust, Temperance. Not Gluttony, Moderation. Not Sloth, Zeal. Never Evil, Always Good. Bring light to the darkness, and you will always be counted among your faith’s blessed. In Line seven, our code reads “Abandon all greed, hatred, and evil feelings for others. These close the mind to truth, and engender hatred for life.” And this message continues in line 14: “Take only what you need, and give only what can.”
For some among us, to adhere to this message is something to struggle with, but as we know by being ones to endure the rigors of training and study to become Paladins, we are aware that our duty is not a simple one. We should also be aware, as I said before, that we are human and to do these things is against our nature, so we must be trained into them.
In line seven, the word abandon is used, which denotes that our patrons know that we possess these feelings, but are calling us to turn away and keep our eyes on what they desire for us, but also that they will aid us in overcome this through our growth in faith.
Should we find ourselves prideful, we are to abandon it. She we find ourselves burdened with greed, we are to abandon it. Should we found ourselves envious, we are to abandon it. Should we find ourselves absorbed in wrath, we are to abandon it. Should we find ourselves lustful, we are to abandon it. Should we find ourselves gluttonous, we are to abandon it. Should we find ourselves slothful, we are to abandon it. Putting these things into practice with absolves us of these evil feelings, so we may pray they do not burden us any long.
These things can only be done through faith, and faith alone. Should you struggle in these, I encourage you to speak up about it to our Church- your brothers and sisters; the congregation, your fellowship, to aid you so that we may all be strong as a body of faith.
The ascension to Paladinhood is an interesting thing, in the way that though we rise to the title, we are humbled and become servants to not only our patrons, but to all humanity. As Paladins, we are all on the same level, for we all serve and I thank all you of the faith for attending, and I hope that my words were clear. Ilmater bless you all."
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