Greetings Sapience!

It is, once more, your distinct pleasure to be addressed by me. I had
foresworn these boards on the basis that one should not throw pearls
before swine, but I have been drawn back in by that least likely of
occurrences: an interesting debate on the public newsboards.

More specifically, I was drawn to respond to Najara's statement that
"when we love someone we do not wish for them to suffer". This was
particularly interesting as Ms. Sa'Rithven also, rarely for a Shallamite
(although there are some enlightened exceptions), acknowledged that
Suffering may "generate a strength that was previous lacking".

One is, therefore, bound to ask if Suffering benefits the Sufferer, why
would you not wish to see your loved ones Suffer? To forbear, to
mollycoddle them, only weakens them. You are depriving them of necessary
pain: pain which will goad them to greatness, mistakes from which they
will learn. You stunt their growth. And why? Because it pains -you- to
see them Suffer. In depriving them of Suffering, you hurt them to save
your own feelings. This is perhaps the true definition of Goodness:
selfishness masquerading as charity.

Let me be clear: enlightened Mhaldorians do not believe in pain for
pain's sake. Pain is useful -only- when it has a purpose. Lord Apollyon
preaches Suffering, not mere pain. Ponder this: Suffering is pain with
purpose.

Perhaps the greatest irony contained in that most wretched and
ramshackle of documents, the New Codex, is that for the first time Good
and Evil have found a place of agreement on which to stand. We both seek
growth. The fulfillment of life's true potential. Good seeks to achieve
this through pity and forgiveness: they seek to achieve growth by
removing the obstacles from the entity seeking growth - but in so doing,
they teach reliance, they teach that one need not work for one's
achievements, they teach cowardice, they teach that you need not protect
yourself for someone else will protect you.

Evil, on the other hand, promotes self-reliance. It recognises that one
cannot be pushed to grow, one must achieve growth oneself. That Strength
is derived from overcoming obstacles, learning from pain, rather than
having obstacles and pain removed from you by a well-meaning protector.

Many within the walls of my own city may disagree with me, but I
fervently believe that there is only one difference between Good and
Evil: our methods are effective.

I welcome any who wish to discuss these thoughts with me. Let the scales
fall from your eyes. Hear the Truths. Grow.

Yours, in service to the Master,
Tenebrus; Proselytist, Cutpurse and Thief
Nimble Nine Fingers, Hands most Dextrous
Master of Acquisitions and Speaker of the Truths.


Penned by my hand on the 20th of Chronos, in the year 436 AF.