Following The Path

[DribNairb]

Extracts from the diary of the aide of SehguhHaras. Due to national security the publication of these notes has been delayed and may be subject to censorship. They begin from approximately the date of 0AD:


SehguhHaras begins her mission to spread The Words and The Truth to foreign lands, now that the time of Almighty Direction is upon us. She has been invited by the French and will begin her teachings there.
...
SehguhHaras has made many friends with her teachings. Every day more people come to meet her and listen to her words of wisdom. Even though I have heard them a thousand times I still find her lessons fascinating. It is clear that a large number of the French people believe in The Truth and wish to learn more about their role in The Path.
...
Just after todays teachings an elderly gentleman requested a private audience with SehguhHaras. She accepted, and the two of them retreated to a small encampment. After several hours she reappeared, looking very pale. She immediately asked for a messenger to return to The Founders homeland. She sealed a message and enclosed an old scroll.
...
I have now been privy to a little information on the cause of SehguhHaras's concern. The scroll the gentleman had in his posession was an ancient artifact from his collection. Upon hearing her teachings he realised the scroll was one of a number which made up The Words. Many such scrolls had been lost since long before living memory. I still do not yet know what was written but SehguhHaras has asked me to remain calm and not to question the outcome.
...
Word has come through that The Dokko have pledged their allegiance to The Truth, despite no formal teachers currently in their lands. They have given tribute to The Founders to re-affirm their faith. Truly this sounds good, but SehguhHaras seems even more agitated.
...
The French leadership has summoned SehguhHaras. Her council was requested this morning and she has not been seen since. Whatever the topic is about must be especially important.
...
I have been tasked with returning to The Founders homeland with an important message. I have orders to travel a long way around and not to enter dokko borders. I dare not break the seal on the message, so I can only presume what is happening. Perhaps political relations have broken down and the Open Borders treaty we have had in place for as long as I can remember has now been stopped?

Edit: more to follow shortly

[DribNairb]

Kneeling infront of my leader, DribNairb, I listened as he read the message and congratulated me on arriving with such important information in such a short time. My initial feeling of pride soon gave way to a feeling of dread as the situation unfolded. It seems the dokko are an enemy within. The scroll predicts our current time on The Path. I was allowed to read the translation before I left:

"And so it will come to pass:
 All on Earth rise and fall along The Path. Those who follow The Truth will gain - those who do not will lose.
 But the Almighty Direction will bring forth a time of darkness. There will be one - one who will meet in friendship and who will pledge his allegiance to The Truth. he will grow to rival The Founders and test the faith of those who follow The Path. he will lose his way and fall foul of new beliefs and unfounded promises of greatness ahead.
 his deception will be told by a simple gesture of goodwill, meant to disguise his blackened heart. This will be followed by continued attempts at 'friendly' relations allthewhile plotting against The Truth.
 When that time comes The Founders will be ready to defeat this rival. An epic battle will be forthcoming as devils pour out from the poor souls of his followers.
 But all who follow The Path will rise up to extinguish the non-believer. The outcome is destiny. The Path has only one direction. The Truth will prevail."

The Words sound disconcerting, but by no means suggest the dokko are the rival in the scroll. My leaders seem convinced that they are though, and have ordered <CENSORED> battalions to train and prepare near <CENSORED> and be ready for immediate dispatch.
I must go home to rest after my long journey, but will then consult with whomever will talk to me. I follow The Path always, but I also believe it can be understood and not blindly followed. Time will tell.

[da_Vinci]

The tales from the diary of the aide of SehguhHaras have come to Yourcenae.  These predictions of dark days sound dire, but Leonardo has feared the arrivial of such dark days for some time.

Paranoius, however, was quite excited by the content, or more exactly, the missing content ... it warmed his heart to know that he has a kindred redacting spirit on this world!

Normalseus, Foreign Minister of Yourcenae

[DribNairb]

The following extract is from the diary around 50AD:


I have been able to read the scroll firsthand and can confirm the translation is correct. Having voiced my concerns about the actions being taken by The Founders leaders they have given me permission to look into it personally. I have begun to compile a list of evidence:

the dokko have grown to rival The Founders. They are the largest nation on Earth (not including, of course, The Founders). However, there are other nations who are similar in size.

the dokko leadership appears to be persuing new beliefs and greatness by following scientific research. This, in itself, does not warrant any evidence - all nations aim to better themselves and do so partially through such research. But the dokko have neglected key defensive technologies, suggesting they may be losing their way in ensuring the survival of their citizens. This is hardly conclusive evidence though.

the dokko pledged their allegiance to The Truth some time ago, but failed to back this with any tribute when requested by The Founders embassador. Just recently however, a small 'tribute' of 1gold piece was sent to our palace. Some took this in good humour, others as an insult. Mostly it was ignored. In any case, it suggests the dokko may not be fully committed to The Truth. Again though, there are other nations who have not pledged their allegiance either way.

the dokko have continued friendly relations with The Founders throughout living memory. However, recent publications within The Founders heirarchy have shown that their leader has made suggestions that our military could attack other neighbours to gain ground. These suggestions were mere seeds of thought, but their intentions were clearly designed to provoke a response whereby The Founders military may be used against a nation who is following The Path and heeding The Words. This is perhaps the most damning evidence against the dokko, but strangely is not mentioned within the scroll and is not used as a reason for war.

My collation is inconclusive and I will continue to research the matter with great haste. If war be The Path then I will follow it in the knowledge that victory is assured, but at what cost?

[DribNairb]

I have uncovered more information as to the reasons for war. The meeting between SehguhHaras and the French leaders was to talk about the possibility of war. France is an ally of The Truth, and is concerned about the rising power of the dokko. In fact, it was the leader of France who first proposed Operation Kodok - the single biggest military co-ordination in Earth's history. Several nations had already pledged to help take out the threat, but The Founders would obviously be key to it's success.

I have learned that some leaders in The Founders council chamber have been concered about the dokko for some time. In particular, their telepathic ability allows them to hear others thoughts and therefore predict future events with uncanny accuracy. Only the historic prophets should be able to do such a thing (for example, in writing the scrolls). Some believe the dokko's relentless approach to scientific research could be to attempt to reverse the telepathic thought to actually place thoughts into the minds of others. This would, of course, be against any code of moral and must not be allowed to come to fruition.

Others believe they are simply seeking to take over the world with advanced military. Rumours abound of powerful weapons known as 'rifles' being discussed by top dokko scientists. These weapons would make dokko soldiers virtually impervious to any other nation's army and would give them free reign to take whatever they like. However, we do not know if such weapons exist or how long they would take to be developed, nor what they would be used for should the dokko have them.

Leaders of other nations are simply worried about the perceived might of the dokko empire. What will happen if they continue their technological advancement? Will the world just cease to exist once supernatural technologies allow them to leave Earth?

Our Leader though, has been unwilling to accept these arguments as anything more than rumour. He follows The Path always. It seems the scroll is the only basis for his accepting the war proposed by France. The other council leaders are happy with this because of their own personal concerns. It seems unlikely war will be averted. But my own grievances remain - why would The One set us on The Path to cause war and suffering?

[Viktor Ahriman]

Da Vinci, if word has reached your lands, then you have meet the founders?? 

[da_Vinci]

Da Vinci, if word has reached your lands, then you have meet the founders?? 

No, we have not met the so-called Founders.  Tales from beyond our shores come to us by way of bards, minstrels, pilgrims and wanderers.

Leonardo

[DribNairb]

I have continued my research:

the dokko have spoken of hearing voices from far away, not from our continent. This clearly contradicts The Truth but they seem unwilling to fully retract the statement. This information has been kept from most civilians. Indeed, I had to dig deep to find this out. It even made me begin to question my own faith, albeit briefly. Such blasphemy is the proof I need to understand that the dokko have lost their way and are surely the nation described in the scroll.

The Truth is The One, and The Path must be followed. Therefore we are left with no choice but to declare war on those who seek to undermine it.
Our generals have been concerned about the hastily drawn plans, but speed and timing is important and we cannot afford to wait.

In conclusion: My personal distaste for war has led me to look for ways to avoid it. But I can see now that my leader truly follows The Path and his wise orders to our Generals in agreeing to war will prevent much greater bloodshed. However, I will continue to look for further evidence. History will see this as an important time and I feel we must record the reasons for future generations.

[DribNairb]

The following diary extracts are up to date since their declassification by The Founders military. The author would like to point out they may still be subject to censorship:

Proof - if more were needed - that the dokko leadership cares nothing for it's people. Just as prophesied in the scroll, alarmingly high numbers of dokko citizens have been wiped out. Their souls bled into the void through forced labour and forced conscription. These poor people have lost their identity and lives, not through the actions of the coalition, but by the actions of their own leaders! The single minded, brainwashed drones who replace them seek to defend their leader (including suicidal runs into coalition forces) and nothing else. It is my belief that the dokko leadership have been perfecting their telepathic abilities by experimenting with mind control on their own citizens!

Yet the people of the conquered towns grow ever more peaceful by the day. Realising their good fortune in joining The Founders empire, they will soon forget their terrible history and learn to love The One.