| Euthanatos |
| Is something wrong, she said. Of course there is. You're still alive, she said. Oh, but do I deserve to be? Is that a Question? And if so, if so, Who answers, who answers? Pearl Jam, "Alive" |
| Many of the Traditions frown upon the actions of the Euthanatos. The Euthanatos do not care. They hold steady in the belief that death is not the end of life, simply another beginning in an endless cycle. Death is a necessary aspect of life, more necessary for some than it is for some others. The Euthanatos believe that they know when a persons time to die is at hand, often before the person knows it himself. From time to time, they assist those whose need to die is stronger than their will to live. This duty is considered an honor, one of the foundations of the Euthanatos philosophy. Alas, most of the people that the Tradition helps along the path to reincarnation do not go willingly. In many cases, the Euthanatos act as judge and executioner against the more corrupt individuals they encounter. Karmic balance, they believe, provides new opportunities, new options for those who have been forced to go in the wrong direction in life. To the Euthanatos, it is simply better to get the foolish moving on to their next life as soon as possible. The Euthanatos are often seen as grim and unforgiven, and to most people, that assessment is fully accurate. But the Euthanatos are simply dedicated to a lifestyle that often requires them to kill even those that are close to them. They hope that the next life will provide better options for their loved ones. The Euthanatos are as susceptible to the loss of a loved one or close relative as anyone else; there is no guarantee that the freshly released soul will reincarnate near the mage who has brought about destruction, no gaurantee that said soul will forgive the one who ended its previous life. The Euthanatos are also unique in that they do not fear death. Most have already experienced death before, during their intiation. Death literally holds no secrets for the Euthanatos; they have come to know it intimately and to understand its workings and functions. Death is a means to an end for the Euthanatos, a useful tool in the restructuring of the world. Euthanatos do not dabble in necromancy, finding the idea of stopping a spirit from following its course to be vulgar. They do not, however, condemn others who do perform the darker arts. They simply see necromancers as being something like backwater cousins -- slow, but with their hearts in the right place. Ascension is a personal thing, and each mage must learn at her own pace. They especially enjoy conversations with the Giovanni and the Samedi vampires, finding the discussion of eternal life versus the following of reincarnation principles a fascinating subject. Rumors abound that the three groups have actually made a pact, allowing for information exchanges between them. None are willing to confirm or deny the accusations. While utterly fascinated by the concept of vampirism, most Euthanatos are leery of risking the embrace. There is a strong belief that the embrace would destroy the connection a mage has to his Avatar, and very few are willing to risk the loss of their power for something as petty as immortality. Still, many take comfort in the knowledge that the Samedi follow similar beliefs, and are perfectly willing to destroy vampires who have not realized when the time is right for death. Primary Sphere: Entropy |