Gargish Virtues
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Gargish Virtues
Author: Wren Hapswill
The Gargish race based thier lifes work on the Principles and Virtues garnered from the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, just as we of the Light base our lives on the what we've taken from that same text.
Although on the surface the two systems of Virtue seem quite different they are in fact very similiar. Lord British gave us the Virtues we know today based on the Codex, just as Naxatilar of the Gargoyles gave his race thier own Virtues based on that same text. In the Gargish text : Book of Prosperity, it is written that to recieve the answer to any question one must only read the codex and properly interupt the answer. Both Lord British and Naxatilor before him consulted the Codex to answer the same question, and received similiar yet different answers.
If the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom is truly infallible, then it stands to reason that either Lord British's or Naxatilor's interputaion of the answer is incorrect.
Yet that brings to mind an old saying, "there's more than one way to skin a cat". Which is to say : That in life there are many answers to any question, and though the answers may be different, they can still lead you to the same outcome. So in the spirit of that saying, I would put forth that both interputations are correct. In this text I shall discuss the Gargish Principles and Virtues compared to our own. And while I list shall list my own conclusions from this comparison, remeber that this is my own interputation.And may or may not be correct according to the intended answer of the Codex.
The Gargish Virtues, like our own are derived from three principles. These three Principles are Control, Passion, and Diligence. Much like our own Truth, Love and Courage. From Control comes the Virtue of Direction.
From Truth we have Honesty. From Passion comes the Virtue Feeling. From Love we have Compassion. From Diligence comes the Virtue of Persistance. From Courage comes Valor. Control with Passion brings the Vitue of Balance.
From Truth and Love comes Justice. Passion combined with Diligence gives the Virtue of Achievement. From Love and Courage comes Sacrifice.
Control and Diligence gives the Virtue of Persistance. From Truth and Courage comes Honor. Outside Control, Passion, and Diligence is the Virtue of Order. Outside Truth, love, and Courage is Humility.
From Control, Passion, and Diligence comes the Virtue of Singularity. From Truth, Love, and Courage comes Spirituality.
The First six Virtues of each set are governed by the last two. And it is here in Order and Singularity that the two sets of Virtues seem to part from one another.
Where the Gargish Virtues seem to dwell on the individial, ours seem tailored to the community. But if you take into account what is written in the Book of Circles you'll see that the Gargish Virtues, through Singularity are in fact tied to the community or race of the gargoyles. ".. with all members equal parts of the unified whole."
So in fact the Gargish Virtue of Singularity would lead the individuial gargoyle to Spirituality within the unified whole.
It's my theory that our set of Virtues is the end result for the Community or unified whole when based upon the Gargish Virtues of the individuial. So in fact neither is wrong nor right, yet are strengthened by the other when used together.
Each of our actions in life effect the world around us in some way. So, to the individuial I say : Ask yourself these questions. What is your path in life? Be honest with yourself .. and remain true to the Direction that path leads you. When you meet someone in need of assistence, How would you feel if you were in thier position? Act accordingly to that feeling. Do you have what it takes to keep going? Stay on the path.. keep striving toward your goals.
If someone strays from thier path.. What can do to help them return to it? Balance your answer by how you would feel in thier place. Doing something you enjoy leads to taking the time to do it well.. Is what you've achieved worth the time you've sacrificed to it? When striving toward your goals..
Do your actions honor precisly your true path in life?
Sometimes none of this questions aply, so you must to maintain order.. it has nothing to do with your goals, not becuase it will make you feel good, and it doesn't matter whether you can do it or not.. you must try just becuase it's the right thing to do.
Each of us asking these questions of ourselves will lead us as individuials. And each of us leading our lives according to the Gargish Virtues will bring us closer to achieveing our goals as a whole set forth as Lord British's Virtues.