From the writings of Taxmaspada;

There was a time of great conflict, with omens of greater conflict still to come. Knowing the coming storm, fierce Taxmaspada set to the task before him of taming earth itself. To these, he did seek instruction and wisdom from: A wizened man, oldest that could be found; The priest-king of Zhrahnyābhuhmihs, from the time before the walls, of whom we do not speak by instruction of fierce Taxmaspada; The most renowned of bronze workers, skilled and learned in their craft; and the strongest warrior that did walk the lands, experienced in his raids, and having seen far off places.

The wizened man did take the iron, and did toss it to the side. His wisdom was this: “There is no need of tools or bronze, for the gods provide us with what we need. Ours is the way of the steppe and fields. Why endeavor to upend what the gods have placed firm in the ground?” This wisdom was found lacking, and Taxmaspada did respond thus: “The gods do not provide - look! See the starving, and their misery. See the cold, and their lack of warmth. It is through the fire and our own work that we overcome these things.” And the wizened man knew this to be true, and his ember did fade in sight of all.

The priest-king did take the iron, and took it as tribute. His command was this: “I have been given these things by the gods. This land is mine to rule, and all that is plucked from it returns to me, just as all men return to gods.” His command fell on deaf ears, and Taxmaspada did respond thus: “Fool! You have taken what has not been offered, and stolen what has not even been understood. See the warriors, who answer to no king. See the workers who slave your fields, and receive nothing but misery in return. It is through the fire and our own work that we will overcome your rule.” And the priest-king knew this to be true, and his ember was snuffed by those who had once been ruled by him.

The bronze worker, fine in his craft and stature, did take the iron, and did work it. Within his kiln and his fire he did lay it. On his anvil did he hammer it. Sparks did fly, but to no avail, as the iron did defy his work. His excuse was this: “My fire is not hot enough, fierce Taxmaspada. Fire cannot tame iron. Fire is only a tool of man, and not the will of gods.” His excuse was found lacking, and Taxmaspada did respond thus: “From the mouth of the renowned do the lazy reveal themselves. Is bread made from apples? Is juice made from wheat? No! And yet, both are eaten. So, too, does one not tame iron as one would bronze, and one does not tame bronze as one would iron. Through the fire and our own work, we will tame it in a new way.” And the bronze worker knew this to be true, and bowed before him.

The strong warrior then did take the iron, and set it aside. His reasoning was this: “Why do we need this, when bronze can already kill? Have we not tamed earth once before with fire and kiln? Have we not proved ourselves already? Is this not enough?” His reasoning was found lacking, and Taxmaspada did respond thus: “Your strength betrays you, and you have become complacent with what you already have. Is not stone also earth? Did we not tame that as well? Why did we need bronze, when we had stone? No! Through bronze we have made great things, and greater things still to come. Fastened spearheads have become forged, and wood has given way to metal. These thing have happened before, and they shall come to pass once more, and again, and again. Fire burns continually - it does not allow itself to fade away just because this log is enough. Through the fire and our own work we continually improve.” And the warrior refused to see this as true, and did set upon Taxmaspada, and was slain before all, his ember diminished in the act.

So it was that all who Taxmaspada, fierce in his gaze yet old in years, had called for had failed to see wisdom. Then it was that Taxmaspada turned to a woman from the crowd who had born witness to these things, and he did ask her her wisdom. Unable to speak, as the gods had robbed her of voice, she did motion for the iron. She did then take the iron, and set it upon the ground. Around it did she pile mud, like one would a wall. With charcoal did she level it, silent in her workings, dust and soot covering her all the while, marking her pure and determined in her works. From these things did she begin to set a fire, fanning the flames to smelt the iron, and did fan the passions of the crowd and Taxmaspada. For a day did these things come to pass. Then it was that the woman pulled it from her creation, and did bring it to the bronzeworker, who fashioned a mighty spearhead from it.

Seeing these things, Taxmaspada did declare. “The works of the silent bears great wisdom, for she lets her actions speak for her. In her ways she has defied the gods that did rob her of her voice. Through her fire and her work, she has undone the will of gods.” And Taxmaspada did hand the spear to the young woman, and the woman did thrust it skyward. And there was thunder, and then there was sunlight.

Further writings of Taxmaspada;

These things are known. The world was. The world is. The world shall be. We do not think, 'How did we get to where we are?' but instead think, 'Why is it that we are here?' Such questions of how do not matter; the world was, and the world is. You were brought into this world, and those before you were likewise. Things beyond this do not matter, for if they did they would bear consequence, which they do not. Do not dwell on them, for none are around who remember how all things started. There is only the fire and our efforts, both fueling the other; I would think this the same at the start as it is now.

Truly, one's mother or father does not deem a person fit for this or that - the wise one takes things into his own hands, and works them into what can be further worked with. He lays stone upon stone until things are built stronger, and last the test of time. He fights those who come against them - he comes to the aid of those beset from all sides. In these ways, he is better for it, and brings pride to his father and mother, in that through his own efforts and the fire he has made things better. The foolish one takes the things he is given, and calls them good enough. He looks to his father and mother and says, "I shall be as you are, and those after me likewise". He defends himself only at the last moment, and looks to the one beset from all sides and says, "If he lives or dies, it is not of my making; his choices led him there, and it is his problem to solve." In this way he brings shame to his mother and father, in that his family persists in stagnancy, never growing the better for it; those things he is given never are improved, but simply maintained; and those around him fall due to his apathy.

Do not be foolish in your workings. Take to the fields and grow plenty, not just those that satisfy your own aching belly. Suffering ends not when one looks to the suffering and says, "Stop suffering, you who suffer" - it ends when one falls silent and takes to the fields, and brings to those who have not without a thought of recompense. All are better for this, and grow together as one.

The lazy braggart says, "I can do all these things", and does nothing. The diligent need not say a word, and does all that is needed.

The warrior looks to his opponent and knows death comes for one or the other. It is through these hardships that greater warriors are born - in this way, suffering is brought as a tool of instruction, rather than as an act of chaos and disorder to those who do not work. It is good that two men fight one another to grow better, but do not lend yourself to wrath. A foolish man kills the other in his sleep. A wise man faces them as they face him, and knows the wrongdoings of both, that greater understanding can be had, and death might be avoided. The killing of a warrior serves nothing, but the besting of a warrior serves everything.

True warriors win without the spear, but with the tongue - yet it is when a wise warrior sees a foolish one who refuses to speak that words must fall silent and give way to action. Do not let foolishness in a warrior give way to your own mercy, for they will simply pass on their foolishness and bring down all with them.

These things are true: that love can be had by all, but that all covet it; that suffering can be had by all, but that all flee from it; and that these two are linked, as if two sides of the same arrowhead. Both may cut when misused, and turn over to the other. Both may be stopped by the shield of patient understanding. Take this to heart, you who read, and tell them to those who do not.

From the writings of Zūrovarīdaēuua;

See these things and know, you who read. Bear witness, and learn from them as a child would from a mother, and take them to heart. In all these things, read and understand them, and apply them to your lives and those around you.

Seek not the destruction of those that oppose you, for there is no greater friend and ally than one born of conflict. Bring them to your understanding, that the both of you are made greater for it, and stronger bonds are brought forth into the world. Yet do not hesitate to cut down those who would cut down others. Like a diseased tree within a forest of many spreads its taint to those around, so too is the ways of man. See to it that you do not fall to such corruption.

My children, read these things and know. It is better to do good and speak little, than speak of good and do little. Braggarts have not a place in the records of great deeds.

I have heard many ask, "What is the fire? Why do we say our efforts with it?" This questioning is good, that those who fear to question it might learn without shame or embarrassment. Know this, then. The fire is everyone's essence, and evident in the world around us. Like the fire without - which burns, refines, purifies, cooks, smelts, and does all these things - the fire within burns with passion to be exerted upon the world. It is our embers that does this, that sparks such creative works, and things of inspiration. It needs and pushes for all to move forward, and to constantly grow better - just as fire grows and spreads as it consumes what it burns.

Many have said, "Is not burning destruction?" In a way, yes - but in a greater way, no! For any good man knows that to slash and burn that which has been already harvested leads to a greater crop, and any good woodsman of some lineage knows that those forests which were once burned grow all the more lush many seasons later. In this way, we too must burn - our efforts are exerted upon the world and fuel our own fire, burning our intentions into this world and into ourselves. When we pass on and our ember diminishes, those after us grow stronger for it - ever growing refined, ever growing in number, ever growing in purpose as they do the same to those who come after them. Thus, death brings new life, and change brings greater change still. This is good.

So, too, does fire spread from one to another. My actions have brought fire to the Quarvoz, and the Quarvoz in turn may yet bring fire to some far off, even if only a little of it. Taxmaspada in his fierceness brought fire to me, and someone no doubt brought fire to him. These things are all good. It can be said, then, that the ember of one's life force persisting against apathy, and eager to see good things brought to it that it might burn all the brighter. Such fire brings forth truth, as it is refined. Then, we are called Bringers of the Cleansing Truth (Vahishrta, lit. "The right-working/truthful visible and invisible fire"), in that we reveal these things to those around us through our words and - most importantly - our actions.

We say our efforts and the fire because it is that the fire burns regardless - it is only when we, ourselves, take the fire within and without and utilize it to see our goals. Like a fire without a purpose is a man without a goal - they simply fizzle out and die after a time, when there is nothing left to sustain them. That is why Apathy is death, and is why we aim to bring an end to it. Sustenance is not enough, for sustenance only prologues the inevitable. It is when you can support yourself and the other that it can be said, perhaps, that things are good enough, so that the other can then support another still - but even this is not good enough. There can always be something greater, even from the best of us. It is why I have both failed and succeeded in the Quarvoz - for some were saved from Apathy, but others were not. Something more could have been done, but alas, I do not know it. Greater ones than I are my hope for a future solution.

Then it is that such greatness falls to you. See these things, and see my failings, as well as the failings of others. Learn from them, and do greater. Even a failure can be turned into success if that failure averts a future failing. Know this wisdom and the wisdom of others, go forth, and do greater things. Through our efforts and the flame, the world shall be.