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{{CaptionedImage|file=ChildPrimer7.jpg|width=168|height=240|align=left|caption=From ''A Children's Primer of the Way''}}
==The Path of Wisdom==
==The Path of Wisdom==
There are many Citizens of the Empire who believe themselves, by nature, to be filled with the Virtue and it comes easily to them, yet the truth is – like all the Virtues – Wisdom is a journey and must ever be striven for. Only the fool believes their journey is complete. Wisdom in the Empire takes many forms and what might benefit you in the Wintermark could as easily be your ruin in Varushka. Wisdom’s natural enemies are folly and complacency who steal the wit and desire for understanding and enlightenment. There is also dispute amongst the Wise as to the extent that knowledge should be shared with the unready lest it imperil them.
There are many citizens of the Empire who believe themselves, by nature, to be filled with the virtue and it comes easily to them, yet the truth is – like all the virtues – Wisdom is a journey and must ever be striven for. Only the fool believes their journey is complete. Wisdom in the Empire takes many forms and what might benefit you in the Wintermark could as easily be your ruin in Varushka. Wisdom’s natural enemies are folly and complacency who steal the wit and desire for understanding and enlightenment. There is also dispute amongst the wise as to the extent that knowledge should be shared with the unready lest it imperils them.


===Guidance on the Path===
===Guidance on the Path===
Through study of the Paragons and Exemplars, the priests of The Way have gleaned insight into the heart of the Virtue and how best to pursue it. There are collections of parables, tales, sayings and teachings that distill this for Imperial Citizens to learn from. The following are a handful of teachings and sayings deemed to be essential to understanding the Path:
Through meditation on the [[auras of Wisdom]], and careful analysis of the stories of paragons and exemplars, the priests of the Way have gleaned insight into the heart of the virtue and how best to pursue it. There are collections of parables, tales, sayings and teachings that distill this for Imperial citizens to learn from. The following are a handful of teachings and sayings deemed to be essential to understanding the path:


* The Virtuous apply what they have learned; wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete
* The Virtuous apply what they have learned; Wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete.
* Let every word you speak carry meaning; do not use forty when four will do.
* Let every word you speak carry meaning; do not use forty when four will do.
* Wisdom is not always knowing the answer; wisdom is finding the right question.
* Wisdom is not always knowing the answer; Wisdom is finding the right question.
* Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth
* Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth.
* Despise folly and chastise the fool that spreads it
* Despise folly and chastise the fool that spreads it.


===Paragons and Exemplars===
==Paragons and Exemplars==
There are almost no Paragons and Exemplars of Wisdom recognised in their lifetimes. The majority tend to be revealed after their time when the questions they posed have been understood, and their insights and judgements have proven sound. Examples include:
Recognised [[paragons and exemplars]] of Wisdom include:


* '''Zoria''', a Paragon whose legends date back to when the Ushka were a young people. So legend has it, Zoria was a Sorceress possessed of great insight and knowledge who lived in the depths of the Great Wilds and learned the names of all the creatures of the wild; bird and beast, fish and fowl. Using their names, Zoria could command them and they served her. One day, in return for a kindness done to her by a hunter lost in the Great Wilds, she commanded beasts to serve the hunter by carrying burdens, providing wool, food and companionship. The hunter went on to be the first farmer and their tribe prospered.
* The legendary paragon [[Zoria]] learned the names of all the creatures of the wild; bird and beast, fish and fowl and using their names, commanded them to serve her.
* '''Isenbrad''' of the Steinr is also known as a Paragon of Wisdom. A smith known for good judgement and counsel, Isenbrad quested with Godric against a terrible troll kingdom. Upon the loss of their weapons, Isenbrad turned his legendary skills to shaping weapons of ice and carved the secrets of his art upon the walls of the cave using runes.
* The paragon [[Isenbrad]] of the [[Steinr]] was known for practicality, good judgement and wise counsel, and is said to have been the first [[Wintermark magical traditions#Runesmiths|runesmith]]
* '''Atun''' of the Highborn, one of the famed Twin Navigators, who - along with Atuman, Exemplar of Ambition - steered the ships that bore the Highborn through unknown waters to their new homeland, as part of their exodus from their doomed home. After the landing, Atun followed a vision of her own and sailed away to an unknown destination. She left behind some students who honoured her memory and ultimately became the Scions of Atun and devoted their lives to spiritual matters, including unlocking the mysteries of liao.
* The paragon [[Atun]] of the [[Highguard|Highborn]] steered the ships that bore the Highborn through unknown waters to their new homeland.
* '''Kala, the Wise Servant''', an Exemplar who was born in the League, and who devised many ways of weighing and measuring, and – so it was said – used these insights to tear down superstitions and develop new ways to prosper her chapter. The stories of Kala tend to whimsical and comical in nature with her deftly solving conundrums and averting catastrophe around her largely oblivious Exarch who boasted of his own vigilance.
* The exemplar [[Avigliana di Sarvos]] of [[The League|League]] encouraged others to take note of the world they lived in and put the truth of it in writing.
* The exemplar [[Kala]] codified a system of weights and measures that are still in use today and provided much of the foundation for modern Imperial scholarship.


===Symbols, icons and trappings===
==Symbols of Wisdom==
The Path of Wisdom has many symbols across the Empire. Before the formation of the Synod, animal sigils were popular, in recognition of Zoria’s mastery of animals. However, the Synod has since discouraged this as The Way exalts the human spirit and beasts are lesser (though the practice exists still in parts of Varushka). As a consequence, more widely accepted symbols are scales as used by Kala to weigh and measure the world, and a lantern as used by Isenbrad to illuminate the cave in which he carved his secrets in runic form.
<onlyinclude>
One of the most widely accepted symbols of Wisdom is the '''scale''', used to weigh and measure the world. Other tools of measurement, evaluating, and recording knowledge are also popular including the '''abacus''', the '''quill''', and the '''rolled scroll'''.


Many Priests and Pilgrims of the Path of Wisdom often carry sources of light, or the means to provide such. Many also carry the means to record such knowledge and wisdom that they encounter.
Things that create light and illumination are also popular icons of Wisdom, and there is some crossover with the symbols of [[vigilance]] in this regard but the meaning tends to be  subtly different. The '''lantern''', the '''candle''', and the '''torch''' allow the virtuous to see clearly, and to understand things as they actually are, as well as to provide the opportunity to take action (such as when [[Isenbrad]] used a lantern to illuminate the cave in which he carved his [[Runes|runic]] secrets). Many priests and pilgrims of the Path of Wisdom often carry sources of light or the means to provide such, along with the means to record such knowledge and wisdom that they encounter.
 
Before the formation of the [[Imperial Synod]], Wisdom was often represented by animals of one type or another, perhaps in recognition of the mastery of animals practiced by [[Zoria]]. The early Synod discouraged this practice; especially among the [[Highguard|Highborn]] it was argued that beasts are inferior to humans - although understandably this attitude did not sit well with the people of [[Wintermark]] or [[Varushka]] who largely ignored it.
 
The '''raven''' symbolises wisdom in [[Wintermark]], while in [[Varushka]] they prefer the '''squirrel''' and the vigilant '''spider'''. Unsurprisingly perhaps some magicians use the [[Runes|rune]] '''[[Irremais]]''', which represents a certain kind of wisdom.
 
During their Spring festival, the Urizen represent Wisdom with white or silver flowers. </onlyinclude>
<quote by="Cardinal Agnetha De Rondell, Spring 378YE"> Wisdom is not short hand for ‘action I’d like you to take’, and foolishness is not synonymous with ‘outcome I wish you had not provoked'</quote>
 
==Further reading==
* You can learn about the various spiritual [[roleplaying effects]] created by priests [[Religious skills#Dedication|dedicated]] to Wisdom [[Wisdom_roleplaying_effects|here]].
* You can learn about the skills that priests can use to enlighten others to the virtue of Wisdom [[Religious skills|here]].
 
===The Seven Virtues===
* [[Ambition]]
* [[Courage]]
* [[Loyalty]]
* [[Pride]]
* [[Prosperity]]
* [[Vigilance]]
* [[Wisdom]]
===Religion===
*[[The Way|The Way of Virtue]]
*[[Imperial Theology]]
*[[Imperial Synod]]
*[[Religious skills|Religious Skills]]
*[[Recent history|Recent History]]


[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:The Empire]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

Latest revision as of 16:10, 1 March 2021

ChildPrimer7.jpg
From A Children's Primer of the Way

The Path of Wisdom

There are many citizens of the Empire who believe themselves, by nature, to be filled with the virtue and it comes easily to them, yet the truth is – like all the virtues – Wisdom is a journey and must ever be striven for. Only the fool believes their journey is complete. Wisdom in the Empire takes many forms and what might benefit you in the Wintermark could as easily be your ruin in Varushka. Wisdom’s natural enemies are folly and complacency who steal the wit and desire for understanding and enlightenment. There is also dispute amongst the wise as to the extent that knowledge should be shared with the unready lest it imperils them.

Guidance on the Path

Through meditation on the auras of Wisdom, and careful analysis of the stories of paragons and exemplars, the priests of the Way have gleaned insight into the heart of the virtue and how best to pursue it. There are collections of parables, tales, sayings and teachings that distill this for Imperial citizens to learn from. The following are a handful of teachings and sayings deemed to be essential to understanding the path:

  • The Virtuous apply what they have learned; Wisdom knows all knowledge is incomplete.
  • Let every word you speak carry meaning; do not use forty when four will do.
  • Wisdom is not always knowing the answer; Wisdom is finding the right question.
  • Test what you learn; only fools accept hearsay as truth.
  • Despise folly and chastise the fool that spreads it.

Paragons and Exemplars

Recognised paragons and exemplars of Wisdom include:

  • The legendary paragon Zoria learned the names of all the creatures of the wild; bird and beast, fish and fowl and using their names, commanded them to serve her.
  • The paragon Isenbrad of the Steinr was known for practicality, good judgement and wise counsel, and is said to have been the first runesmith
  • The paragon Atun of the Highborn steered the ships that bore the Highborn through unknown waters to their new homeland.
  • The exemplar Avigliana di Sarvos of League encouraged others to take note of the world they lived in and put the truth of it in writing.
  • The exemplar Kala codified a system of weights and measures that are still in use today and provided much of the foundation for modern Imperial scholarship.

Symbols of Wisdom

One of the most widely accepted symbols of Wisdom is the scale, used to weigh and measure the world. Other tools of measurement, evaluating, and recording knowledge are also popular including the abacus, the quill, and the rolled scroll.

Things that create light and illumination are also popular icons of Wisdom, and there is some crossover with the symbols of vigilance in this regard but the meaning tends to be subtly different. The lantern, the candle, and the torch allow the virtuous to see clearly, and to understand things as they actually are, as well as to provide the opportunity to take action (such as when Isenbrad used a lantern to illuminate the cave in which he carved his runic secrets). Many priests and pilgrims of the Path of Wisdom often carry sources of light or the means to provide such, along with the means to record such knowledge and wisdom that they encounter.

Before the formation of the Imperial Synod, Wisdom was often represented by animals of one type or another, perhaps in recognition of the mastery of animals practiced by Zoria. The early Synod discouraged this practice; especially among the Highborn it was argued that beasts are inferior to humans - although understandably this attitude did not sit well with the people of Wintermark or Varushka who largely ignored it.

The raven symbolises wisdom in Wintermark, while in Varushka they prefer the squirrel and the vigilant spider. Unsurprisingly perhaps some magicians use the rune Irremais, which represents a certain kind of wisdom.

During their Spring festival, the Urizen represent Wisdom with white or silver flowers.

Wisdom is not short hand for ‘action I’d like you to take’, and foolishness is not synonymous with ‘outcome I wish you had not provoked'

Cardinal Agnetha De Rondell, Spring 378YE

Further reading

  • You can learn about the various spiritual roleplaying effects created by priests dedicated to Wisdom here.
  • You can learn about the skills that priests can use to enlighten others to the virtue of Wisdom here.

The Seven Virtues

Religion

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