Do not be involved in war! Why is it that we are not a peaceful society
revolving around peaceful ideals?

We live in a society that promotes democratic values of being fair to
one and all where fitting into a group, and knowing how to cooperate
with other people is of the greatest importance. We are taught early on
in life that those who are outwardly combative and aggressive pay the
social price of unpopularity and become isolated from the group of
peaceful minded people. These values of harmony and cooperation are
perpetuated in subtle and not-so-subtle ways:

- through scrolls on how to be successful in certain events and
positions of leadership;
- through the pleasant, peaceful exteriors that those who have gotten
ahead in the world present to the public;
- through notions of correctness that overwhelm our public areas

We are not all prepared for what confronts us in Sapience - War.

This war exists on several levels. Most obviously, we have our rivals on
the other side, be it Shallam and Ashtan, Chaos and the Church, or Order
versus Order. In politics and business, every house, every individual -
even the bards - fight for recognition. We face opponents who will do
almost anything to gain an edge on us or the things we hold dear to us.

More bothersome and increasingly complex, however, are the battles we
face with those who on our side. There are those who outwardly play the
team game such as city mates, who act very friendly and agreeable, but
who sabotage us behind the scenes and talk down about us, and use the
group to promote their own plans. Others, even more difficult to spot,
play subtle games of passive aggression, offering the help that never
comes, instilling guilt and suspicion into organizations and singular
minds as weapons for extortion. We tell ourselves, to justify these
things that on the surface everything seems peaceful enough, things
aren't so bad. However, just below the surface, every man and woman is
for him or herself. The society we live in daily may deny this reality
and promote a gentler picture, but we know it and feel it, in our battle
scars, that the world is a much harsher place.

Yet we know the world has become a more uncaring, more impersonal place.

It is not that we and our colleagues are despicable creatures who fail
to live up to societies ideals of peace and selflessness, but that we
cannot help the way we were born. We have aggressive impulses by nature
that are, indeed, natural. They are impossible to ignore or repress. In
the past, individuals could expect a group - the City, a House, a Order
- to take care of them, but this is no longer the case, and in this
uncaring world we have to think first and foremost of ourselves.

This is not to say things have gotten so bad that we cannot do anything
about it. When our very living of life daily is warfare, when war steps
out of the declared battles or the soldiers that die on the fields of
battle, Lord Aegis embraces us all, for in war, the Church member that
wishes to see Chaos destroyed is no better or worse than the warrior who
wishes to stop fighting for the day and spend time with his family or
the member of a House who wishes to see their House leadership
over-thrown secretly.

Aegeans and the rest of society have welcomed the ability to recognize,
discuss and accept battle as a way of life; Aegeans do not ignore that
war comes in many forms but instead welcome it as a part of our lives.
No one understands the ability to live life fully and enlightened as an
Aegean does. Aegeans learn to position themselves for success in all
aspects of life whether it is for personal gain or for a grand scheme.
Lord Aegis teaches us that all situations are learning opportunities and
must be exploited.

If we are seeking to be part of a greater cause that is all encompassing
speak with the Aegeans, for they hold nothing of their wisdom or
knowledge back, and work with all cities, families, and Houses in all
their forms no matter the organizations stance on Lord Aegis.

Learn to fight your war, whatever it may be.

To Soldiers and Warriors,
With Honor, Courage, and Commitment,
Luciano Lucoster

Penned by my hand on the 2nd of Sarapin, in the year 473 AF.