PROTECTORS
The Protectors of Life believe that life, in all its forms is sacred, and
should be respected. This is not to say they will not hunt, for mortals need
food, nor will they object to the cutting of trees, for mortals need wood to
build homes... but above and beyond all this, they believe life should be
respected for the beauty it reveals.
A history:
DEFENDING THE ROSE @>-,-'--
- For the rose is defenseless, but wields the most beauty. -
Tamaria shared her world with her fellow mortals, providing them shelter and
the means to live comfortably. There was no need for conflict, and no need for
thievery; she treated her followers well, and they returned her love and
generosity in kind.
But then the land of the Realms began to erupt with anger and hate. Clans
emerged from the population with the sole purpose of destroying one another
just for the bettering their own persons. The mortals started hunting her
beloved creatures not out of necessity, but instead out of sport or for thrill.
The very land began to rot away because the mortals were too busy fighting
amongst themselves and stealing from one another to care for it. This new
situation weighed heavy on the heart of the goddess, for she could not bear to
watch her loving creatures suffer at the hands of senseless murderers. It was
starting to appear to her that material possession and personal gain had taken
importance over the pure unbridled joy that she provided. Those who would not
follow the material worships and covetous thoughts were hunted down and killed
by the clans.
And when Tamaria was about to lose all hope for her creations because of her
unwillingness to directly interfere in the affairs of the mortals she noticed a
lone mortal upholding the morals that she wished to bestow upon all. And then
there was another, and another... She decided to offer these mortals a family,
a clan, and to enrich them with the greatest of all her creations, the love of
life. In return they would never willingly follow the evils that came with the
other clans. They would try to show others a set of pure ideals, based
foremost on forgiving and acceptance. They would never steal from another, and
they would do their best to protect the innocents from harm.
While at first the noble followers did not understand how they were supposed to
accomplish such a daunting task in the increasingly evil world they inhabited,
they did not shirk their duties, but instead pressed on with a determined will.
Many died, for their path was not an easy one, but to fill the ranks of the
fallen came many more. Even so, the clan knew it was failing in its task if
only because the evil, having no honor, no dignity, and no mercy, relentlessly
pursued and destroyed one member after another with no consequences, for the
Protectors of Life never sought revenge, only understanding.
Sensing her clan's peril and concern for being killed in cold blood because of
their vows, Tamaria willed that any who would attempt to murder one of her clan
would inherit a curse and that this curse would lower their defenses
permanently; in essence revealing the black and cowardly soul that they are for
attacking a person who only offered love and assistance in return.
Even so, with their endless toil and ever increasing burden some of the members
of the clan found it hard to follow the codes that were developed over the
years. The Protectors of Life are not perfect in their ways and mistakes
are made; in the heat of unthinking anger, many regrettable things can happen,
even to such a peaceful clan. But Tamaria has been a forgiving goddess time
and time again. Still, it must be said that there will always be the rare
individual who, failing to abide by the clan's ideals, crosses the limit of our
goddess's forgiving nature. Those who do so are banished into the wastelands
of the [--Loners--]; there to deal with the evils of the world without
the safety of the clan. Tamaria has tried many times in council with the
leaders of the clan to find ways to avoid this... but such are the wills of
mortals that this is not always possible.
Over the years the Protectors of Life have managed to keep preserved their
ways from the original ideals of the first few members, and Tamaria has had
reason to smile upon them. While some other clans might call the Protectors
their mortal enemies, all will agree that when in trouble, the Protectors
are willing without a second thought give them the shirt off their back to help
another in need.
...From Achbar the Thinker, as told to Shrax