The Judgment

Recovered Fragments from the Arbiters’ Book of Letters: “Would you be counted among the heretics cleansed from this world? Or do you aspire to prove yourself to Judgment time and again, as we have proved ourselves? Then heed well these words, for their collective wisdom have saved us and, we pray, will save us still each time It returns.” (I Barbarians, ch. 3) “Some of you ask, ‘What was life before Judgment?’ Those old enough to remember dare not tell, but know that the world called Terra Primus was rife with sin and heresy. The faithless built great and terrible monuments to themselves, cities reaching into the sky, ships that pierced the heavens, and unholy machines that reached across worlds. The rulers of Terra Primus elevated themselves as gods, and in their wisdom, the Celestials sent Judgment so that we may see the error of our ways and suffer for it.” (Truths Revealed, ch. 5) “Do not seek to return to the old ways, for the towers and technologies of Terra Primus were heresy.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 15) “Remember the settlement of Dend. Remember Lucia the Mother, who offered up her babe to Judgment and declared “great Celestial, bear witness to my devotion!” and plunged the knife into her only child. Judgment brought its light upon the people of Dend regardless, as punishment for sacrificing the innocent.” (I Barbarians, ch. 11) “Build only that which allows you to live. Sow only that which is needed to eat. To do more than this is heresy and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 1) “Remember that even the one who built the first shrine to Judgment was burned in Its light. Of all in the encampment, the only one spared was Koenrad the Pious, who pierced his hands upon the shrine.” (I Barbarians, ch. 12) “To worship is to suffer. Do not forget your worship but refrain from overindulging. The extent to which you must suffer is for you to discover. Anything more or less is heresy and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 2) “Some of you ask of the Celestials, saying ‘What is their nature? What is the order of their echelon?’ Know that their nature is unknowable, that their order is the ultimate order. Know that Judgment is the favorite of the echelon, that It represents all that is right and just across all time and all worlds.” (Truths Revealed, ch. 2) “Do not seek answers outside of Judgment, for any deviation from the will of the Gods is heresy and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 5) “Remember Gerhardt the Blind, who tore out his own eyes as testament to the trust he placed in Judgment. Gerhardt proved himself worthy and his death from old age was a gift from Judgment. But remember also those who followed in his example and tore out their own eyes. They were burned in Judgment’s light, as punishment for their bare-faced imitation.” (II Barbarians, ch. 7) “Fear is faith. Fear is love for Judgment. To live a life without fear is heresy, and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 5) “Some of you ask, ‘Why does Stardotter the Deceiver prosper? She builds beyond what is needed and stores food and wealth. She does not worship, she seeks answers in the stars. Why do her repeated heresies go unpunished while we starve and strive to see our siblings, spouses, and children burn in Judgment’s light?’ Know that Stardotter the Deceiver lives so that we may punish her, and all who follow her. This is the greatest test of our worthiness, and Judgment permits us to live so that we may triumph over her.” (Truths Revealed, ch. 3) “Look to your neighbors, and see that they are righteous in word and action. Granting mercy to heretics is itself heresy, and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 8) “Remember Ragnar the Traitor. Once a proud hunter of heretics, she abandoned The Arbiters and sought protection under the shadow of Stardotter the Deceiver. Protection she did not find, for when Judgment returned the following year, Ragnar was destroyed in Its light.” (III Barbarians, ch. 6) “Turn your ears away from those who followed the Deceiver. Ignore tales of black fog or dark shadows. Punish those who would talk of the Deceiver triumphing over Judgment. Engaging with the enemy’s lies is heresy and must be punished.” (Laws from Beyond, ch. 3) “Let these be the last words of The Arbiters. Judgment has not returned in twelve winters, not since It destroyed Stardotter the Deceiver. But even though our God is gone, and the heretics who call themselves Auroran have brought us low, we will never waver in our devotion. Judgment will surely return, and we will be remembered as the ones who remained faithful. It is our grim responsibility, for our children, and for our children’s children, to fight against heresy and create a new world in Judgment’s image.” (Final Testament, ch. 11)