A Tale of Three Brothers
Once upon a time, there lived three brothers, devoted to Morth in their own way. Each was gifted in their own way and many great things were expected of them. The Beastkin, powerful, proud and intelligent rose through the ranks of the military. The Human, cunning and charismatic, found his calling in the priesthood. The Chemina, aloof yet possessed of much wisdom, baffled everyone with his decision to retreat from society and renounced the world as a hermit.
The Beastkin General, ever ambitious, was left unsatisfied and seized control of the army and overthrew his King. The Human Priest, aware of which direction the wind was blowing, was quick to convince his Church to throw their weight behind the new ruler. Observing all this, the Chemina shook his head and proclaimed, "Such is the action of fools. They know not where their path will take them." and retreated further into seclusion.
The King Beastkin was satisfied for a time, but pride turned to envy as he eyed his neighbors and soon his armies were on the march. Quite content with the riches and followers new crusades would bring, the Human, now a High Priest, once again convinced the masses of the righteousness of their ruler. Observing all this, the Chemina Wiseman once again shook his head and proclaimed, "Such is the action of fools. They know not where their path will take them." and retreated even further into seclusion.
Now bent with age and ruling a vast domain, the Emperor was content for a time. But unwilling to relinquish his control, he played his children among themselves and died in bed, satisfied at his achievements and confident none of his children would ever equal his legacy. The Supreme Patriarch, more gold and stones than flesh at this point, was content with the seemingly endless spires and cathedrals being raised at his command all over the land. He died in bed, lamenting that he wouldn't see the largest and grandest of these buildings, a veritable citadel and town of its own, completed. Observing all this, the Sage, on his deathbed shook his head for the third time and proclaimed for the last time, "Such is the action of fools. They know not where their path will take them and now they must suffer for it." and then expired.
United in the afterlife, the three brothers, once the closest of friends, could barely stand each other. The Emperor mocked the Patriarch for his gluttony and claimed he did nothing but waste the empire's coffers in endless works of opulence. The Patriarch in turn called the Emperor a fool and chastised him for his wrath and endless greed. Both were much angered by the abuse and chastisement they received from their eldest brother. And so, arguing amongst themselves so intensely that even the Candle-Bearers sent to escort them were quite unwilling to do so, the trio eventually made their way to the gates of the afterlife.
Appearing to them in various shifting forms, the Endless Matron asked them if they thought they had lived a life in accordance with her wishes. The Emperor stepped forward proudly, in his full regalia and spoke of the size and breadth of his Empire and of how many lands paid tribute to Morth's chosen Emperor. The Matron merely nodded and bade the priest step forward. The Patriarch stepped forward proudly, in the full garb of his illustrious office and spoke of how many wonders Morth's followers had built to her, of the work and food houses the church administered and financed and how each day, hordes of the faithful stepped forward, all hoping to be ordained as one of her priests. Once again, the Matron merely nodded and then bade the hermit step forward. Garbed in rags and with a flimsy branch serving as his only belonging of worth he spoke of the simple life he lived, secluded from society, how he spent each day in meditation and worship of her holy name and how he did not interfere in the affairs of others. Having said his piece, the sage stepped back into formation with his younger brothers.
Shifting to her form of Judgement, the Matron then made her proclamation. "Oh Emperor! You have drowned the lands in blood! How many have you left slain on the endless fields of battle? How many died for your petty ambitions? You claim to conquer in my name, but observe the results of your folly!" She showed the three brothers a vision of ineffectual heirs fighting each other for scraps as the Empire crumbled around them, of how many more untimely deaths were to follow and how the name of Morth was poison to the ears the lands all around. The name promised no release or rest for the weary, but only of death and conquest. "You stand here, stained with the blood of the innocent that were and will be. You struck down many lives in your time, Emperor, but your legacy, such as it is, will strike many more down. I have seen this. See where your ambition has taken the lands and tell me if you deserve respite from the Inferno before you venture into the Halls of Eternal Rest beyond." The Emperor was struck speechless and observed. With the wisdom brought of hindsight and of a wise advisor sorely missed in life, he could make no argument and repented. He would willingly cleanse himself in Inferno.
Turning to the Patriarch, the Matron condemned him as well. "The coffers of a dozen Kingdoms have you emptied to build your grand halls and structures! And to what purpose? Magnificent from the outside, yet hollow of all purpose. Raised by the blood and toil of those that you refer to as the 'little folk', wonders meant simply to show the opulence of your office and the riches of your church. The workhouses and soup kitchens you raise, to no purpose but to assuage what remains of your conscience. You claim to work for the common folk yet you do nothing to ensure they provide the services you promise. See you now how your vaunted apprentices mismanage these places of charity." The Patriarch observed and a conscience so long extinguished burst into flame at the sight of the abuse done to the common folk in these supposed houses of charity. "You speak of the faithful willing to take up the life of a priest. Yet I see naught but hungry, terrified and weary faces longing to be guaranteed the scraps of the cloister. Better that than the uncertainty of the streets or the abuses of the workhouses! What willing faith and belief is to be found? These masses care little for worship. They merely seek to find their next meal in a world so mismanaged by their so-called superiors!" The Patriarch, for the first time, finally understood the meaning behind the words and sermons he had preached as a mere means of gathering followers. Chastised, he accepted his punishment. He too would willingly cleanse himself in the Inferno before venturing into the Halls of Eternal Rest.
Seeing the plight of his brothers, the Eldest stepped forth and harangued the duo before proudly turning to the Matron. To the shock of all three brothers, the Matron condemned the Sage as well. "To be granted the gift of wisdom and to misuse it entirely, Man! How can you now condemn your brothers? Your failures are no less than theirs. You escaped from the company of your fellow mortals and to do what? To spend your days in endless meditation and worship? What use does the world, indeed what use do I have of such a devotee? To live life to the fullest and to raise and be raised by your fellows is what I preach, for only with a fulfilled and happy life will souls rest peacefully in my halls. You condemn the rest of the world as fools, yet offer no advice to correct them. How many mistakes of your brothers do you think you could have corrected? You mock them for the path they followed, and yet did nothing to caution them. Indeed, having heard my judgement, you still feel the need to add your piece. To show your superiority over your brothers. You claim to live a humble life, but in truth you rate yourself even higher than an Emperor and Patriarch could ever do so." But the 'wise' sage was adamant he deserved no punishment and loudly complained of his treatment. In vain did the younger two attempt to caution him. Seizing the impertinent sage, the Matron thrust him into the Inferno.
With a sad face, she turned to the remaining two brothers. "...I have judged you all. Go forth and receive your punishment in the Inferno." The two brothers bowed deeply at the feet of the Matron and made to leave but embers of a brotherhood long extinguished seized their movement and rooted them to the spot. Seeing their hesitance and divining their worry, the Matron placed a soothing hand on their shoulders and spoke in a much calmer and comforting voice. "Do not worry of your brother. He too shall rest in the Eternal Halls eventually. Punishment in the inferno is not eternal. Everyone must pay for their crimes and the price for many is heavy. But that price will eventually be paid and they too shall find peace. This too is my duty and promise to the both of you and every other soul. You go forth now to receive your punishment, but do so with your heads held high and your spirits light. Perhaps in time, in another place, you shall be worthy of your titles of Emperor and Patriarch." So comforted, the remaining two siblings walked into Inferno, hand in hand.
