Erud first concieved the simple, and yet then-original, idea that is now called, unadorned, Erud�s Vision. Stated unpretentiously, it holds that true power comes not from physical prowess, but rather from intellectual. This very notion is also, save for a few meager permutations thereof, the essence of what they in Paineel call the Dark Truth.
Far be it for me to call any Erudite obstinate, but the leaders of Erudin may have been somewhat hasty in their ouster of the pseudo- �Heretical� followers of the Dark Truth. Had they taken more time for contemplative meditation of the matter, they could have realised that the two presumably-conflicting philosophies were, verily and unequivocally, assiduously congruous!
The faux pas which led to the ensuing ouster can be attributed to the �Heretical� choice of religious affiliation. The Deepwater Knights of Prexus and �Peacekeepers� of Quellious simply could not bring themselves to acquiesce their obstination against the actuality of the presence of disciples of Cazic-Thule in their city. What they failed to perceive, however, was that these disciples of Cazic-Thule were in pursuit of tantamount aspirations as they, merely under a different guise. The objective of following Erud�s Vision is to gain veritable, bona fide power for oneself through the avocation of arcane magic and the furtherance of intellectual prowess; the objective of the Dark Truth, the same.
This �Heretical� religious affiliation is of minuscule significance to the citizens of Odus, of the High Keepers thereof in particular. The High City of Erudin was founded not to be emancipated from religious persecution, for disciples of Quellious and Prexus abound in our old cities to the East. It was a scholarly endeavour, nothing more nor less. What affair our forefathers had in ousting their and our brethren due to diverging ethics nonetheless in concordance with the same, immutable philosophy, is alas, a thing unfathomable, and in need of restitution.