Selections from Satar Philosophy of the 4th Century RM
"What is the main attribute of a god? The power of creation. This world was shaped by the gods and the spirits. But it was not a united creation, which is why the earth is constantly changing in a chaotic fashion.
If the earth were made by a single god, it would show signs of order. But, instead, the earth seems to be at war with itself. Mountains burst into flame, and the earth shakes and tears. The sea is swept by terrible storms. There are places of great heat and great cold. Even the creatures of this world live in constant struggle; the insect is eaten by the snake, the snake by the bird and so on.
Did not the gods (for, as we have proven and will prove, the world was made by no single god) create the world in their image? Therefore, we can only assume that the world beyond is identical to the world before us. The heavens are at war."
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Carnax-ta-Atracta,
Xephatarxis [Tome of Observation]
Editor's note: Carnax-ta-Atracta (Carnax of Atracta) was a remarkably lucid and eloquent Satar thinker. One of his main tasks was the justification of the Ardavani cosmology in light of the the material world. He also developed a rational morality of Exatas, centered around bringing divine order to a world of chaos. His political works are not absent from any well-stocked library of a Satar Prince or Redeemer.
"I have taken note that some men, mostly Accar, but even some blooded Satar as well, have begun to reckon their days by the calendar of the slave peoples, the Seis-wai. This disgusts and enrages me, as do all the features of this accursed people. But I contained my rage for the space of time required to discern any merits this slave-calendar might possess. This required a study of the history of the Seis-wai, a history of nothing but sordid weakness, the reading of which gave much disruption to my health. They failed on land to conquer the Bahran kings, and on sea the Triluin were their masters. And still they claim to be a chosen people.
Furthermore, they reckon their days from the birth of their union, a union long dead, destroyed utterly by The First and the Second. But it is but one of countless such unions, and empires, and republics. Even their current goddess, the failed rebel 'Aitah,' is but a copy of an earlier goddess, Matah, who fled into the east at the coming of the Golden Mask, just as Aitah fled before the conquering armies of the Noble Restorer, Macrinus.
By comparison, dating the years from the Mask Reforged is noble and good. Even our enemies know that the return of the Satar was the breaking and remaking of the world. They cannot deny the power and terror of the First Exatai. By comparison, what does this slave-calendar even count? The days from the beginning of one nameless, forgotten Seis-wai state among many, as useless and unsuccessful as all the endeavors of this truly revolting, nauseating slave-race. I sincerely advocate the proscription of its use by Sixth Redeemer Petraxes."
Tarkalik the Lesser,
Polemic Against the Subject Peoples
Editor's Note: Tarkalik the Lesser was a veteran soldier serving the Prince of the Sword, who took to writing after losing a leg defending against a Moti raid. He was not particularly profound or well-known beyond his time, but his works were preserved due to his influence over the Wind-Lord, Petraxes, and subsequent installation as court philosopher in Magha. Some of his vitriolic denouncements of the Moti, Seshweay, and Vithana have been expropriated by others over the years. Petraxes ultimately did ban the usage of the Seshweay calendar in the Exatai, a ban which remains in force.
"First Meditation. How does one master the Aspect of Thought?
The number of unanswerable questions can enrage. Rage, while useful to a servant of Taleldil, cannot be allowed to overpower patience. Even while rage consumed him, Arastephas the Great retained the clarity of his thought. He attacked neither too early, nor too late. Equally so, abandoning your rage heralds weakness, of strength and of the mind.
The Aspect of Thought is as crucial to the warrior as it is to the thinker. Any mere soldier can direct his spear into the gap between his enemy's armor, but for a Prince fighting a battle, knowing when to direct his army to charge or to flank, that is the possession of EXATAS.
Therefore, the first step towards the mastery of the Aspect of Thought is the maintenance of rage, and the maintenance of patience. Consider again the Prince who wishes to break the enemy's army. If his rage overwhelms his patience, he shall direct his troops to charge too early, and the charge will be broken. If his patience overwhelms his rage, he will direct his troops to charge too late, and they will be drawn into a trap. But if he charges neither too early nor too late, his rage tempered by patience acts acts in unity with the patience tempered rage of his army, and the enemy is broken by the ferocity of the charge, and the possession of EXATAS.
When patience and rage have been brought into perfect balance, one has achieved the first
sha [step] towards Mastery of the Aspect of Thought. Withdraw within your own mind. Feel the blazing fire that is your rage, and the wall of ice that is your patience. Combine them within your mind, and form water. This water shall nourish the garden of your thought. The blood red flowers will bloom.
Second Meditation. How does one master the Aspect of Thought?"
-Ixat-ha,
Seventy-Seven Meditations on the Mastery of the Aspect of Thought
Editor's Note: Ixat-ha [Ixat the High] was a famous monastic of Magha. He first became Avet-ha of an influential monastery in the cliffs of the city, later rising to become the High Oracle of Magha. He dedicated his writings to the achievement of mastery over the Aspect of Thought, always arguing ardently for the balance of the warrior's code with intellectual training. He remains widely read in monastic circles, especially among the Avetai.
