16:03:45 You incline your head politely to Scarlot.
16:03:48 Scarlot lowers her head respectfully before you.
16:03:55 You ask in a pained voice, "Greetings. Will you please follow me?"
16:03:57 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:04:14 (Mhaldor): You say, "Scarlot will be under my escort."
16:04:50 You say in a pained voice, "Ah. Here we are."
16:05:01 You say to Scarlot in a pained voice, "Please, sit."
16:05:09 You nod your head emphatically.
16:05:20 You say in a pained voice, "We are in the library of the Mhaldorian Cathedral."
16:05:35 Scarlot says, "Ah, I was going to ask that."
16:05:46 You say in a pained voice, "It is a most-grand building, and I spend much of my personal time here, meditating, or doing paperwork."
16:05:55 You ask in a pained voice, "Will you remind me, please, of your class?"
16:06:01 Scarlot says, "Magi, Sir."
16:06:09 You say in a pained voice, "Thank you."
16:06:26 You ask in a pained voice, "Now, you said that you wished to -learn- more of Mhaldor. May I ask, what would you like to learn?"
16:06:54 Scarlot says, "I see mentionings of the Seven Truths, although only the first is mentioned."
16:07:02 You nod your head at Scarlot.
16:07:15 You say in a pained voice, "I will stop you momentarily."
16:07:21 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:07:23 You ask in a pained voice, "What are your thoughts on that first Truth?"
16:07:51 Scarlot says, "My first thought was... 'No pain, no gain' to put it lamely."
16:08:04 Scarlot says, "To gain, you must know the pain."
16:08:07 You say in a pained voice, "Aye, 'tis a lame way to put it, as you say."
16:08:12 The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.
16:08:20 Scarlot smirks.
16:08:24 You ask in a pained voice, "But, what do you feel about our goals?"
16:09:02 Scarlot says, "I wonder how there would be any other way to actually learn or advance without first knowing the pain of not knowing."
16:09:43 You ask in a pained voice, "That is to say, you wish to learn more then, before you feel comfortable speaking on the topic?"
16:09:52 Scarlot says, "Aye."
16:09:57 You nod your head at Scarlot.
16:09:59 You say in a pained voice, "Very well."
16:10:16 You say in a pained voice, "As the first truth says, 'we seek to advance nothing less than sentient life'."
16:10:31 You say in a pained voice, "And, 'what is called evil is merely the desire to advance'."
16:10:58 You say in a pained voice, "Taken together, I tell you with no shred of doubt that the Mhaldorian goal is the creation of Utopia on Sapience."
16:11:20 You say in a pained voice, "We seek nothing less than Perfection, for ourselves, and also for our enemies."
16:11:45 Scarlot asks, "To advance into... a higher form of life for all?"
16:11:52 You nod your head at Scarlot.
16:11:55 You say in a pained voice, "Precisely."
16:11:56 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:12:15 You say in a pained voice, "Our methods are such that there is no other response to Oppression, than ... more Oppression."
16:12:34 You say in a pained voice, "Our beliefs are as an infectious disease, but without the nasty side-effects."
16:12:41 Scarlot smirks.
16:12:58 Scarlot asks, "How would there be a side-effect to advancement?"
16:13:02 You say in a pained voice, "Very well. I shall go through the other Truths with you."
16:13:10 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:13:12 You grin mischievously at Scarlot.
16:13:47 You say in a pained voice, "Truth One: What is called evil is simply the drive for advancement, for greatness. We seek, through discipline and pain, to spur the advancement of nothing less than sentient life."
16:14:04 You say in a pained voice, "We have spoken of this already, but I wished to quote it more precisely."
16:14:10 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:14:29 Araval, the Illuminatrix gripes about life in general.
16:14:30 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Two: Cruelty - the application of pain - is the method by which one weeds out the weak and feeble-minded from the population."
16:14:43 You say to Araval, the Illuminatrix in a pained voice, "You are weak that you complain, Illuminatrix."
16:14:49 You give a pained sigh.
16:15:06 You ask Scarlot in a pained voice, "Can you imagine how one might look at cruelty as a favour to your victim?"
16:15:16 Scarlot purses her lips, deep in thought.
16:15:50 Scarlot says, "I would see it as a way for them to contain their pain, to learn from it, to strive to perfect ways to either accept it or not have it happen again."
16:16:08 You say in a pained voice, "Imagine, for a moment, a deer and a wolf."
16:16:33 You say in a pained voice, "Now, imagine that the wolf is successful in his hunt, and has cruelly torn the deer limb from limb."
16:16:37 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:16:49 You ask in a pained voice, "How might the deer population benefit, as a whole, from this?"
16:17:17 Scarlot says, "They would learn more of the wolves hunting patterns, avoiding them or being more alert to the dangers around them."
16:17:35 You ask Scarlot in a pained voice, "Aye. But further, surely that deer must have been weak, yes?"
16:17:43 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:17:49 You say in a pained voice, "Physically so, so as to have been caught."
16:18:06 You say in a pained voice, "By consuming the deer, the wolf has prevented its weakness from being spread via reproduction."
16:18:22 You say in a pained voice, "As a result, the deer population becomes not only mentally stronger, but also physically."
16:18:40 You say in a pained voice, "Remember, cruelty is 'the method by which one weeds out the weak'."
16:18:49 Scarlot asks, "Basically weeding out the bad fruit in the gene pool?"
16:18:54 You say in a pained voice, "There is a desire to -excise- it."
16:18:57 You say in a pained voice, "Precisely."
16:18:59 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:19:05 You say in a pained voice, "Let us continue."
16:19:24 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Three: Weakness must be eliminated in all its forms: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual."
16:19:32 You say in a pained voice, "This is so true as to be a tautology."
16:19:49 You say in a pained voice, "Even the Shallamese could agree with the statement, carte blanche."
16:20:03 You say in a pained voice, "Thus, I will not tarry upon it."
16:20:05 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:20:33 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Four: The enemies of strength are those who trumpet the effeminate values of forgiveness, tolerance, and laxity of discipline."
16:21:00 You ask in a pained voice, "What is the effect of those who demonstrate forgiveness? What effect will it have on a populace?"
16:21:41 Scarlot says, "Sounds more like babying an infant instead of letting them learn and grow."
16:21:48 You nod your head at Scarlot.
16:21:59 You ask in a pained voice, "Does learning ever occur from success?"
16:22:34 Scarlot purses her lips, deep in thought.
16:23:14 Scarlot says, "I'm inclined to say no, because many factors could lead to success, and those factors may not repeat themselves, so one would have to know every single factor in life to repeat it over and over."
16:23:46 You say to Scarlot in a pained voice, "Success is an aphrodesiac. It is as though one has eaten a large meal, and is placated."
16:23:57 You say in a pained voice, "One who is full of food cannot want for more."
16:24:02 You say in a pained voice, "Thus, they do not seek it."
16:24:21 You say in a pained voice, "Let us return to the story of the wolf and the deer, and imagine instead that the wolf has failed to catch his meal."
16:24:35 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:24:47 You say in a pained voice, "He becomes more desperate, more focused. He pours over his failures, looking for that one mistake that caused him to lose his victim."
16:25:00 You say in a pained voice, "It is in failure that one learns. Or starves."
16:25:16 You say in a pained voice, "And should they starve, then they were weak, and have thus been removed from the gene pool, as well."
16:25:24 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:25:50 You say in a pained voice, "You see, what I am creating for you is a Mhaldorian world view where these Truths are always True, and are but expressions of nature."
16:26:00 You say in a pained voice, "But, let us continue."
16:26:03 Scarlot nods her head at you.
16:26:19 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Five: The body may be made stronger through combat."
16:26:50 You say in a pained voice, "This is again another tautology that I feel few will disagree with: everyone realizes that perfection comes through practice and hard work. There is little debate upon the point."
16:26:56 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:26:58 You ask in a pained voice, "Do you have questions before we continue on?"
16:27:08 Scarlot says, "Not at the moment."
16:27:12 You say in a pained voice, "Very well."
16:27:35 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Six: The mind may be made stronger through the elimination of conscience. One does this by inflicting pain on others."
16:27:51 You say in a pained voice, "This is a corrolary of Truth Four."
16:28:11 You say in a pained voice, "If tolerance is the enemy of strength, then we must weed out that weakness by being less tolerant."
16:28:20 You say in a pained voice, "We must expect Perfection."
16:28:42 You say in a pained voice, "And aide our brothers and sisters to reach it by both inflicting pain upon them, and being the victim of their Oppression."
16:29:01 Scarlot asks, "So, by tolerating the other beliefs of the realm, one would be weak?"
16:29:09 You say in a pained voice, "Note well, however, a virtuous cycle of Evil."
16:29:10 "Oh?" you exclaim quizzically.
16:29:20 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:29:33 You say in a pained voice, "In a way. But, the Truth speaks more to the tolerance of weakness."
16:29:40 Comprehension flashes across Scarlot's face.
16:29:45 You say in a pained voice, "That is to say, tolerance generally speaking."
16:30:11 You say in a pained voice, "However, we have little problem with those of us who take a more fundamentalist approach to our religious beliefs. After all, they are True."
16:30:28 You say in a pained voice, "I, myself, have often found myself encouraging heretics to 'convert or die'."
16:30:33 You say in a pained voice, "I encourage you to, as well."
16:31:01 You ask in a pained voice, "Further questions?"
16:31:09 Scarlot says, "I have one."
16:31:13 You nod your head at Scarlot.
16:31:46 Scarlot says, "Why would the Seven Truths be considered evil? They seem to be common sense, as they seem to follow rules of natural beings."
16:32:02 You say in a pained voice, "Precisely. However ..."
16:32:20 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:32:23 You say in a pained voice, "Recall the First Truth. It says, 'What is called evil ...'."
16:32:35 You say in a pained voice, "I tell you, we are not evil in the proper sense."
16:32:41 You exclaim in a pained voice, "Nay, we are very good!"
16:32:46 The corners of Scarlot's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.
16:32:50 You exclaim in a pained voice, "What we want, -all- should want!"
16:33:07 You say in a pained voice, "We merely possess the bravery to embrace Suffering and Oppression."
16:33:34 You say in a pained voice, "Now, I promised to point out to you what I had previously called a 'virtuous cycle'."
16:33:41 Scarlot nods her head at you.
16:33:43 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:33:52 You say in a pained voice, "It is 'virtuous', because it begets itself anew with every revolution."
16:34:30 You ask in a pained voice, "Imagine, for a moment, that the Mhaldorian army has sacked Shallam, or Eleusis. What is the response of those who trumpet the effeminate values of laxity?"
16:35:07 You ask in a pained voice, "And tolerance?"
16:35:19 You smile impishly and say in a pained voice, "What do they do to us in return??"
16:35:39 Scarlot says, "Hrm... I would say to scatter like deer, or group together and attempt to stop the attacks."
16:35:58 You ask in a pained voice, "After our attacks have stopped. What will they do to -us-?"
16:36:10 Scarlot says, "Attack in return."
16:36:21 You say in a pained voice, "And in doing so, they will inflict pain upon us."
16:36:37 Scarlot asks, "Ah, thereby making you stronger as well?"
16:36:41 You say in a pained voice, "Thus, they will be chipping away at their own conscience, and making their minds stronger."
16:36:44 You say in a pained voice, "Precisely."
16:37:07 You say in a pained voice, "Our Oppression begets their Suffering. They plot Vengeance, and Oppress us. We Suffer, and plot Vengeance in turn."
16:37:16 You say in a pained voice, "It is as though a beautiful, perpetual dance."
16:38:01 Nizaris's eyes glisten with pride and patriotism.
16:38:07 The corners of Scarlot's mouth turn up as she grins mischievously.
16:38:14 You say in a pained voice, "This is our way."
16:38:19 You say in a pained voice, "Finally."
16:38:43 You say in a pained voice, "Truth Seven: The spirit may be made stronger by enduring hardships, both self-imposed and externally imposed."
16:39:08 You ask in a pained voice, "Have you ever encountered a young child, who was given everything that they ever wanted by their parents?"
16:39:09 Scarlot tilts her head and listens intently to you.
16:39:11 Scarlot tilts her head to one side while looking at nothing in particular, rubs her chin, and thoughtfully mumbles "Hrm."
16:39:15 Scarlot says, "Aye, I have."
16:39:22 You say in a pained voice, "'Mommy, I want candy!' 'Daddy, I want a toy!'."
16:39:24 Scarlot says, "Spoiled, selfish beings."
16:39:25 You scoff arrogantly.
16:39:32 You say in a pained voice, "Precisely."
16:39:35 You say in a pained voice, "They are 'spoiled'."
16:39:43 You say in a pained voice, "That is to say, 'ruined'."
16:40:04 Scarlot asks, "Ruined because they don't know how to do things for themselves to get what they want?"
16:40:07 You say in a pained voice, "They lack strength, and the patience to be able to handle the hardships of the world that they are about to enter."
16:40:19 You say in a pained voice, "They will be unable to -survive-."
16:40:23 Scarlot nods her head emphatically.
16:40:36 You say in a pained voice, "Now, that is the -true- cruelty. Cruelty of the parents, for their child will be unable to cope."
16:40:57 You say in a pained voice, "Thus, they will be cast aside like the ruined fruit that they are, fit only to be trod upon by our boots."
16:41:45 You say in a pained voice, "Yes. This is the Mhaldorian Culture. Our way of life. Our beliefs, and our religion."
16:42:01 You ask in a pained voice, "Do you desire strength and perfection? Greatness, and purpose?"
16:42:12 Scarlot says, "I do."
16:42:27 You say in a pained voice, "Then stand, and we shall make you a Slave."
16:42:44 You say in a pained voice, "Follow me. We have work to do."
16:43:35 You nod your head emphatically.
16:44:15 You say in a pained voice, "Before we see you inducted into Slavery, I must witness your resolve to serve, and to experience Pain, for the purposes of strength."
16:44:25 Scarlot nods her head at you.
16:44:26 You say to Scarlot in a pained voice, "Please, read the tree aloud."
16:45:13 Scarlot says, "I hereby pledge myself to the Lords of Evil and the Lady of Vengeance in my eternal service to Mhaldor. My blades to purge the weak, my body to protect our land, my mind to spread the teachings of our Masters, and my soul to serve Them in death."
16:45:31 You exclaim to Scarlot in a pained voice, "So witnessed. Be branded a Slave and property of Mhaldor!"

You press the tip of the branding iron firmly against Scarlot's arm, the smell of burning flesh filling the air as the hot metal rod sizzles against Scarlot's cool skin.