Warrior
Warriors are legends and terrors. They
are the people of fear and the outriders of death. They alloy themselves with
their own nightmares and become creatures above and transcendent to horror,
pain, and loss. They are the grim march of devastation. In the Wyld, the Warriors can give even the greatest of the
unshaped a certain measure of death. In Creation, they are mercenaries and
murderers, and crows follow at their heels. Bold heroes and cruel monsters are
alike in their nature: The Warrior raksha are epic,
iconic figures, bringing fear to their enemies and sheltering those they serve.
The symbol of the Warrior is the sword.
Held in the left hand, it means stasis, for those who fear the sword may shape themselves to the Warrior’s service. Held in the right hand,
it means change, for each cut brings new endings and new beginnings to the
world. In all times and places, the sword means death. These three concepts
summarize every fear known to raksha, mortal or god,
and in taking up the sword, the Warrior makes such fears the problems of his
enemies.
Warriors hate Creation because it can
kill them. In the Wyld, riding on the winds of storm
and battle, they are eternal — but it takes only the touch of an iron blade or
a Lunar Exalt’s claw to end their lives forever.
Simply by existing, Creation makes death and terror once again the Warriors’
masters. It limits their Valor and their immortality. It makes them small.
Those who find themselves trapped in
Creation feed on others’ fear. The gentler method distills the fear from the
subtle taste of Valor — the radiance of fear defied, cast off and ignored by
gladiators, thugs and heroes. The ravisher’s way cuts the bravery from the
mortal soul and plunges the victim into trembling, wide-eyed, waking nightmares.
Caste
Traits: Warriors are
skilled at the physical and social arts of war. Their Caste Abilities are
Archery, Athletics, Brawl, Melee and Presence.
Grace
and Virtue: Warriors
feed on Valor. They favor the Sword Grace and its Charms, which channel Valor
and give them the power to inspire fear.
Controlling
Grace: Temperance
controls Valor. The art of the Ring is drive, integrity and the creative
principle. Two are necessary to war, but the third is its antithesis. Thus, Cataphractoi, Warriors who also master the Worker’s art,
are the nobles best fitting the Warrior description above.
Associations: The southern direction, the color red,
the place outside, the shinma Nishkriya,
the physical world and greatness.
Sobriquets: Kshatriya, Nightmare
Brood, Hero Spawn, Death and Fear Folk, Killers, Trembling World Walkers,
Outriders, Hobgoblins
A little
girl looked at me and said, “I am afraid.”
I told
her, “Little one, even in this Age of Sorrows, there is virtue in mastering
your fear. Take up your father’s sword. Strike at me.
Perhaps
it will strike true.”
Ah! Was
even the Unconquered Sun so proud of his children as
I,
when
she raised up that blade? She struck at me, and struck not well,
but I
have made the town a pyre in her name.