Community:Church of the Dark Star/Sermons/20160730 Order Beginnings

"Beginnings", from the perspective of the Order Belief, presented by Kazyn Phoenixfyre

Thank you, and thank you all

Today we stand on the threshhold of a new day. The destruction caused at the end of the third age is rampant. Homes were lost, fortunes were washed away. An era of uncertainty ended... This day, May 1 493 PC is but the first day of the rest of our lives. And though we fought tooth and nail for so long for what it is we earned, we again come to a time - one last time - where that has been bled away. There has been chaos, some beautiful and interesting, and while yet some unbridled and destructive.

But we ... we are strong. And as always, in a time of uncertainty, loss, and yes even chaos - there are those who wish to take advantage of the chaos. Those who wish to do harm to others and - in some ways - are the very reason some ASSOCIATE chaos with evil. But it is not chaos that is evil, it is the heart of those who might use chaos to harm. The undead of brightbone pass, the armies of the lich lord of the hidden vale, the kobolds of sanctus spine. Monsters abound, thinking we avatars and humans alike are weak, they seek to do their harm upon us. But even last night, we struck out against them then, to remind that we are strong and virtuous, to protect those of resolute.

But that is not why i say these words... i say them because it was not the republic alone. But the jade dragons, pax et veritas, aerists, and clan of the wolf. When one of our friends stood up and said they needed help, they could not do something alone because they were too weak or too unprepared an army of friends and allies stood up and said no, one may be weak - but together we are strong.

And so we did, just a few short days after the dawn of the fourth age - we captured Sanctus Spine pass, and held it - together. We avatars, we are like this. We sometimes crave the friendship and companionship of the family we have built here. We inherently have an instinctive drive to do better together. We always have. so now we are here, the first days of the fourth age and against all odds were here at PaxLair, a place that means much to many of us. That symbolizes where we started - and yet here we are starting yet again... the same way we ended, and the same way we begun. A cyclical order to the universe, often derived from the chaos around. Our hearts, the virtues, our aspirations... there are many things that drive us.

And there will be many challenges ahead. But if we have learned anything it is that we can depend on one another. We lean on and support our brothers and sisters. And the fourth age will not change that. And when we are in trouble, when any darkness that creeps out from the shadows comes to harm us, it will be the virtues that guide us... and the strength of unity. That we will rise up and beat back that darkness, and celebrate - because we as always... are stronger together.

I thank you for letting me speak, and for being a part of this auspicious moment. I have but one final thing to say. We... are home.