It is no secret that I do not worship the Ardent Four. That does not mean I do not believe the Ardent Four exist or have power to act and influence our world. It means I do not believe the Ardent Four are worthy of veneration. They are gods, not Gods.
I have asked many what it means to be a god. Many have said what you would expect. Some give me the simple answer that a god is a being of incredible power. A bear is physically more powerful than I am. Should I prostrate myself before a common bear? Some say that a god is a god and refuse to try to come up with a definition. These are the worst kind; they are simple minded and willfully ignorant. Perhaps the most educated will say that a god is a force of good in the world, even going as far to say they are what defines good in our world. While I respect this answer the most, it still falls short in my eyes. The gods all differ in what they feel is right or noble in this world.
Allow me to illustrate my point with a simple example. For the sake of argument, I am going to present an example of what many would refer to as a “good deed.” I recognize that by making this argument, that there could be many interpretations as to the definition of a “good deed” and I make this argument in part because of those many interpretations.
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Imagine that you are out on a stroll through the village on a serene Spring day. The sun is shining, the sky is blue with scattered cheerful, white clouds, birds are chirping and singing, and everything seems right in the world. Just then, you turn the corner and see an elderly woman in distress. This kind, wrinkled woman is on the verge of tears as she stares longingly up at her tree where her cat, Mr. Whiskers, is meowing on a tall branch. You are probably thinking to yourself that the right thing to do, the “good deed” so to speak, would be to rescue that cat, bring it down from the dangerous tall branch and into the arms of the cat’s loving owner.
Are you sure?
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If you are a follower of Eoun, you must first ask yourself a few questions. Are you rescuing the cat because you care for the cat or the old woman or both? If you do it because you feel it is the right thing to do, meaning that Eoun would want you to rescue this cat, then Eoun would disapprove. Even if you feel in your beating heart that you care for the wellbeing of the cat or old woman, do you know this old woman? By delivering this cat to her, will you be subjecting the cat to what the cat might view as torture? If the cat wants to be in the tree, are you respecting wildlife?
If you are a follower of Tinarae, you must also ask yourself a few questions. Is that cat fated to be in the tree? What if that cat’s untimely death was fated and would spur this woman to take action to prevent hundreds if not thousands of future cats from sharing the same fate? Are you willing to take the chance to stop fate?
If you follow Valaane, you have still further questions to ask yourself. Should you help convince this wrinkled woman that misfortune is part of life, and that if Mr. Whiskers dies, that there are other cats in the world she can purchase to protect her home from mice? Or should you risk life and limb and climb the tree to rescue the cat in a daring showing of skill or luck? But if you are a skilled climber, is that really a daring showing of skill or luck?
Are you a follower of Branmir? Would rescuing Mr. Whiskers be a great feat of strength or skill? If so, meaning you are not a skilled climber or handler of animals, would you not also be jeopardizing Mr. Whiskers with your rash attempt to rescue him. Would you not be placing this kind, old woman in a precarious situation where she might have not one, but two deaths on her hands.
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A simple situation, made infinitely complex by the viewpoints and teachings of the Pantheon.
As for me, I choose to believe in the strength of my arm and the sharpness of my mind. I also believe I can trust everyone to do what is in their own interest. Of necessity, as mortal beings we must be selfish to continue living. We all seek the best life we can, though our outlook on what that means may differ, just like the gods. In the end, we must all strive to do what we feel is best, and if that aligns with the teachings of one of the Pantheon, great, but do not believe that it is the only “right” route.