Brethren in arms, bonded by will; children of the Aether, lords among men – today, we march onward. This day, we charge into strange lands. It is time to leave the comfort of our homes and the safety of familiar places. For it is now, that we answer the Call, it is now that our Journey begins.
The Aether searched and found us. The Aether called and we answered. Now, we run onward for The Aether lives! Lords among men, the way ahead will not be easy. The path that we will tread is the path that none have walked before. Perhaps you think that an uncertain fate awaits us down this road…No. Our fate is secure; the path is uncertain. I see the faces of the young and ruddy, I see the faces of the old and worn. I see your gazes of hope and strength, but I feel the doubt within your hearts. Do not doubt! Do not fear! Our enemies feed on our fear and through our doubt they are made decisive.
We were warned, were we not? The Aether is not for the weak of heart, she is not for the uncertain. The Brotherhood is not for those with weak roots, it is not for souls without conviction. The Aether did not pick children to follow her. She did not summon the feeble folk. She hailed those with hearts of stone, she reached out for those with unbreakable certainty, she searched for the unmovable and lifted the heads of men and women with fire in their eyes. This thorny and narrow road that none have dared to walk is and will forever be our highway. In our small numbers, there is great promise. In our ranks, I see those that will cheat Death time and time again. In our handful of creative minds, I see the answer to the worlds’ problems. In our explorers, I see bright pioneers that will disperse the darkness. In our scouts, I see fearless men and women that bring to light the unknown. In our harvesters, I see the wealth of the Universe. Our haulers hold the paths of the space and time in their minds. I look upon the warriors in our midst and I see the nemesis of our adversaries!
What can hold us back? What can stop us? What can destroy us?
Nothing. Nothing, but ourselves. In our decisions, lie the keys to our existence and to them are bound the chains of our death. There is no foe that can withstand us, there is no mountain that can block us, no valley that can hide us. There is nothing that can put us down! Unless we hand ourselves over to defeat.
In unity, lies our strength, everything else comes after. If we, as brethren and lords among men can conquer our imperfections, none can withstand our advance!
Look upon the lands! They are ripe for the taking. Look to the skies! They are but a hand’s breath away. Cast your eyes to the horizon! All is yours. Raise your gaze to the Universe beyond! It is time for you to reap! Let none take it from you! The blue skies, fertile lands, rich mountains, deep oceans, consuming deserts, freezing ice caps, the chilly tundra and the lush forests, the cattle upon a thousand hills and the wealth of all is yours…if you will take it.
Care for none, but your own! Seek the welfare of no one but yourselves! The road will not be easy and the elements will not be in our favour. Expect no help from man: you will get none. Give no mercy to man, for they will grant no grace to you. In life, know no fear, in death entertain no doubts. In vengeance, don’t hold back! For any man that puts his hands to the plough and looks back is not worthy of joining our ranks.
I see my brethren with the faces of lions and swift as the deer upon the hills. I see us with the wings of eagles and the fire of a thousand suns in our eyes. I hear our roars as the roar of a million oceans and I feel our zeal, surpassing even the fierceness of the wildest storms. Through uplifting victories and resounding defeats, through the rolling hills and steep mountains, through the gentle zephyrs and the violent storms, will we stand together? Will we stand united? For if we will, charge onward!
Leave the safety of your homes behind and match the dread of the wilderness! Forget your families and your lands, abandon your castles and wealth! Leave the simple life and know the thrill that comes with being a child of The Aether. For The Aether is a huntress among hunters, turning predator into prey and feasting in the terror that lives in the eyes of her adversaries.
Run upon the borders of factions and walk the delicate lines between nations. Don’t falter at the difficulty of the task, for by wise guidance you can wage your war. Protect our abstraction, for we are that grey in a world of black and white. With these hands, we will exalt the feeble that call on us and with these feet, we will tread upon the empires we are sent against!
So brethren, sail upon the winds of change. Empires will rise and fall, power will continue its course, but we, the children of The Aether will ride upon the waves. In caring for our own, first and only, will we seek out the secret places of space and feast upon the spoils of the Universe. Cleanse the fear from your hearts! Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.
The time behind is, but the past. This day, we set out on our new life. Untold pleasures and riches await, only if we can persevere through the trials and storms that strengthen us. What doesn’t kill us, brothers and sisters will only make us stronger.
Rejoice, children of the Aether! The worlds are at your feet. Go forth and take what is yours: the wealth of space and time.
Aether Eterna; brothers and sisters. For we are in this: always and forever.
Onward!
--Recovered transcript of the Eon’s speech
at the founding of the Lambent.
"
We're defined by achieving the impossible,
And we count these moments of strength and greatness:
Moments where we prove ourselves to be capable,
Of aiming high and casting off our baseness.
We count these moments as our proudest achievements.
Have we lost all that? Perhaps we've forgotten.
Forgotten that we will forever be pioneers.
Destiny lies above; we've barely begun.
The Aether welcomes XarlesNoriac to the stars. A pioneer among pioneers.
"
XarlesNoriac reacted to Vyz Ejstu in Heimera Trade Xchange