It's made clear, for example, that the Abyss Watchers' story is a continuation of the Forest Hunters from the first game, that Carthus sprang out of the alliance between Mytha and Agdayne in the second game, that Aldritch is tied to the history of both Thorolund and Carim, that Sulyvahn is a refugee from the Painted World of Ariamis, that Lothric is somehow tied to the history of both Drangleic and Astora.
Yhorm and the Profaned Capital could connect to anything. Well, not quite...
The frontrunners for where the Profaned Capital is include Oolacile, the capital of Carthus, Eleum Loyce, and Volgen, weirdly. I'll outline the case for each.
Oolacile: we know Oolacile sank beneath the surface of the earth following the events of Artorias of the Abyss, and became inaccessible as the area where the city was became a lake in the Chosen Undead's time. The gatehouse where we find Yhorm is flanked on either side by circular towers, an almost identical design to Oolacile. Additionally, the Capital is approximately underneath Farron, although this doesn't mean what it once did given the state of things. If the Capital is Oolacile, then the place we fight Yhorm is the same area where we fought the Pus-inflicted Guardian in the first game.
Problems I have with this: Oolacile was implied to have broken up into the Abyss Chasms/Shrines we traverse in the DS2 Pilgrims of Dark covenant, and other than the vague architectural and geographic similarity there doesn't seem to be anything directly related to Oolacile in the Capital, which it seems like there would be, as much as the game likes referencing Oolacile.
Things I don't have an answer for:
- The area with the school. The school doesn't seem to line up with anything in Oolacile. Since the school connects to the dungeon, it's possible that the school was built after Suly rediscovered it.
- The Court Sorcerer. I don't think he's native to the capital, as he dies if he enters the swamp. The (implied to be untrue) claims that the Court had direct heirship of Logan's teachings, and the copy of Big Hat's staff, make it clear that they at least had information about Logan, even if this information is from before BHL's experiments with the primordial crystal.
- The Profaned Flame. I'm pretty sure the Profaned Flame is post-Ivory Chaos. I don't know why it's in the Capital, though, as there are very few connections to Dark in Eleum Loyce and the major one, Alsanna, is the least Manus-like of Manus' children.
 |
| Pictured: the dumbest sorcerer. |
Carthus: the Profaned Capital is physically close to the Catacombs of Carthus, and Yhorm's status as descendant of a conqueror could tie him to Wolnir.
Problems I have with this: no skeletons or evidence of a society oriented around conquest and war, apart from Yhorm himself.
Eleum Loyce: the Profaned Flame would seem to be the same Chaos Flame from Eleum Loyce, and the fact that there are Dark characters described as oracles would seem to tie them to Alsanna.
Problems I have with this: It looks nothing like EL. Further, Eleum Loyce was a place that seemed like it would exist as it was until the end of time. The links to Eleum Loyce may indicate that the Old Chaos exerted influence over the Profaned Capital, just as the Old Chaos originally influenced Eleum Loyce. The 'oracles' may have been descended from the Loyce Priestesses.
Volgen: As outlined here, the Profaned Capital matches the description of Volgen, at least in part. They were wealthy, and the wealth was seemingly won through trade rather than conquest. Gilligan, a native of Volgen, is found there. The lack of apparent martial force - apart from Yhorm himself - fits with the description of Vol forces as being timid, preferring to hire mercenaries when the need arose.
Problems I have with this: no clerics or indication of dragon worship. Volgen was tied closely to Lindelt and the Archdrake Sect.
I don't know where, exactly, the capital is or was [It's Oolacile - FM], but since the 'where' of the capital is kept so ambiguous I'm going to assume that this is because it either doesn't matter or fits with the rest of the lore surrounding Yhorm as being intentionally vague.
There is a case to be made that the Capital exists as a kind of Nexus between worlds, much like Things Betwixt in the second game. The main evidence for this being the distant crack through which daylight can be seen, despite the Capital being deep below ground.
 |
| Of course, it might just lead outside. |
Since there's no simple narrative for the Capital what follows will be an overview of some of the more noteworthy items and environments in the area.
Eleonara - The Profaned Flame was triggered by the curse of these women,* relatives of a certain oracle,** but despite their culpability, [the malformed inhabitants of the Profaned Capital]*** went on living, without any cares.
From Latin alienior, 'more alien,' 'one who alienates'; nora, 'daughter-in-law'; eleanor, 'Other Anor'.
Eleonara is a name very reminiscent of the Daughters of Manus [it might connect to a poem by EA Poe - FM].
* The Profaned Flame burned only human flesh. Judging from the many corpses we find, we can assume that the capital was, at least in part, a human settlement. The curse of 'these women' would seemingly relate to Alsanna, or possibly the Daughters more generally. If so, then this would imply that either Alsanna (or one or more of the other Daughters,) had children, or that the Abyss of Manus continued to produce daughters that would have behaved in a similar fashion to the originals.
** Alsanna is the only character referred to as an oracle outside of the Capital. An oracle is generally a priest/ess through whom a/the god/s/ess/esses channel prophecy or wisdom, usually of an enigmatic or allegorical nature.
*** Monstrosity of Sin - Abyssal creatures that are weak to Dark and have a soul-sucking grab attack. This would seemingly confirm their relation to Manus, as would their 'hand-like' appearance. Their hands all have 8 fingers. Their 'head' is full of molars, similar to the hand of Manus that snatches the Chosen Undead from Darkroot, while their stomach is a gaping mass of eyeballs.
Profaned Flame (pyromancy)/Coal/Hammer/Spear:
- The Profaned Capital was consumed by fire after Yhorm the Giant became a Lord of Cinder. The fire, born of the sky, is said to have incinerated naught but human flesh...The Profaned Flame, which never goes out..burned down the Profaned Capital, [and can be] preserved in an icy skull."
- The Profaned Coal enables Dark, Blood, and Hollow infusions. Andre comments that the Profaned Coal is 'much too dark. I see the Abyss in it.' Dark weapons are created with gems 'born of disembodied humanity' that resemble the crystals in the Ringed City swamp. Blood weapons are created with titanite literally infused with blood, which are 'slurped by Irithyll slaves.' Hollow weapons are created from titanite that is plentiful in Londor. Hollow weapons 'peer into the essense of [their] wielder,' and scale with "that elusive, essential property unique to humans: luck. [Anri's Straight Sword]."
- The Gargoyle's hammer and spear contain portions of the Profaned Flame, and their weapon art is called Kindled Fury, which may have Implications.
Jailers/Handmaidens - These characters would seem to contradict the above re: Suly, as they were said to have become servants of Sulyvahn after the Profaned Flame burned the capital. They're said to be sadists that enjoy wounding others, the Handmaidens carrying a dagger that saps FP, and the Jailers carrying a 'soldering' iron that inhibits Estus healing by branding the victim with something like a temporary seal of fire. Further, the Jailers carry lanterns that, when activated, temporarily drain the target's maximum HP at an alarming rate.
Greatshield of Glory - this shield was originally commissioned by Vendrick to commemorate some unspecified glory. The shield was meant to be given to the leal knight Syan, but he was slaughtered before the shield was completed. Judging from the design on the shield, the 'glory' may have been the gathering of the four Lord's Souls to a central location by Vendrick. The shield then made its way to the Dragon Shrine. Its presence in the Capital may indicate that this is, in fact, a post-Vendrick Dark Souls 2 location, or that the citizens had extensive dealings with Drangleic. The shield's description implies that 'success begets indolence,' generally an accurate conception if one's ever met a child of successful people, and a point that further hammers home the fact that the ruin that befell the people of the Capital was of their own making.
Purging Stone/Cursebite Ring - both of these items were originally credited to Earl Arstor the Impaler of Carim. In this incarnation the Purging Stones are said to be a treasure of Londor, and the Bite Rings are said to be used 'freely' by clerics.
Stormruler - also called the Giantslayer, this broken sword channels the power of storm, a dragon art, and the weapon art, Storm King, would seem to tie the weapon to the King of Storms, the mount/partner of the Nameless King. Giants are apparently weak to storms, although mechanically this effect only applies to Yhorm. Yhorm carried two of these blades at some point, but gave one to Siegward and left the other with the 'humans who doubted him.'
 |
| Yhorm's legs fell asleep #deepestlore |
Holding up the Sky
The Capital is split into two different parts, the capitol, where we fight Yhorm, and the school, which connects back to the Irithyll dungeon.
The school was known for its court sorcerers, who claimed heirship to Logan's teachings by means of a secret scroll outlining his pre-Seath spells. The scroll implies that this heirship is in some way illegitimate, perhaps because no mention of the Paledrake or crystallization can be found in the area, unlike the Grand Archives. The sorceries are 'testament to Logan's prowess in battle,' and 'mirror the nature of the dark.'
We find in the lower level of the school peculiar statues of what appear to be 'philosophers,' about some desperate and monumental task.
The single court sorcerer we encounter carries a copy of Logan's staff, as well as a Gargoyle's Flame Hammer. The sorcerer, also implied to be an oracle, is found on the roof of the ruined school, seemingly guarding either/both the path back to the Irithyll Dungeon and/or the Wrath of the Gods miracle.
Outside of the school is a large, toxic swamp full of 'sewer centipedes.' I'll talk about these enemies more later, probably in conjunction with the Painted World.
This swamp is similar to the swamp in the Garden of Consumed Oceiros, and seemingly unlike the swamp of Farron, which is of more traditional poison such as we found in Blighttown. There's no indication what caused the swamp, beyond whatever unnamed sins were carried out in the school, or even when the swamp came to be. It could be possible that after the Profaned Flame burned all the humans of the capital this swamp arose as a kind of mirror of the poison created by the Chaos Flame, although it seems like Frost is meant to serve that role instead.
The Capitol of the Capital
The other side of the capital is inhabited by Gargoyles. These gargoyles are unlike previous gargoyles in that they appear to have once been human. They have human skulls and hands, and their appearance may indicate that they underwent some type of 'angelic' evolution prior to Yhorm's Firelinking, an event that may have calcified them (we find petrified Pus of Men in Dreg Heap, indicating that creatures of Humanity/the Abyss are subject to turning to stone in some instances).
These gargoyles later (chronologically,) make an appearance in Lothric and are associated with the Grand Archives and the Younger Prince, although their heads have been removed, likely to obfuscate their true nature. All evidence suggests that they were brought to Lothric by Sulyvahn at some point.
In addition to gargoyles we find more of the 'philosopher statues.' These statues, which all seem to be of very old men, all portray the elders about some arduous undertaking. The basin cannon containing the/some of the Profaned Flame is held up by some of these statues, as is Yhorm's throne. Other statues show the philosophers manipulating long, pillar-like items that have given rise to no end of speculation. These poles look somewhat like the Gargoyle Flame Hammer, and if so could be a type of cannon or ballistae used to attack airborne foes. They could also be support pillars, indicating that the old men were attempting to 'hold up the sky' as the capital sank beneath the earth (assuming the Capital was ever above ground).
The 'profaned cannon' that seems to serve as the primary defense of the capitol is kept in something not exactly like a lordvessel. This fire is attended by Handmaidens who don't seem to be in control of it (it fires even if the attendants are dispatched). It seems like this is all that remains of the Profaned Flame, beyond the small bits found here in there in weaponry or kept alive as spells. As the Profaned Flame is said to 'never go out' this leads us to the question: so where is it?
 |
| "And then I was all like pew pew pew" - Socrates |
The Flame of Izalith is still very much there, even if it is no longer a life-giving flame. The Profaned Flame, however, is nowhere to be found, beyond the traces we find in-game. As it's implied that the Profaned Flame is the same as the Old Chaos from Eleum Loyce - that is to say, either the original Chaos Flame or a similar Flame created by the Lost Sinner in early-mid Olaphis - it should be massive. And massive, undying flames don't just vanish, right?
There is a flame hidden in the Painting of Ariandel. The flame is dormant, kept dormant by the blood of a saint. But the flame always and forever seeks to relight itself. It also seems as if it's a flame that draws heat to itself, turning the world around it into a frozen tundra.
Since we know that Sulyvahn originally came from the Painted World - where he was already an accomplished frost sorcerer - and went on to become the head of the Way of White - someone with the authority to commission a restoration of the Painting - it's possible that Sulyvahn had the Profaned Flame drawn into the Painting and charged Father Ariandel with keeping the flame appeased.
This is a long shot, as it seems as though El/Friede is the one who convinced the Father to keep the flame appeased, contrary to the wishes of the Crow People.
Whatever the case, this topic will be revisited later.
The Lonely Greatwood
To be up-front, and although I'll try to outline as many alternate theories as possible, my personal head-canon for this story is that
Yhorm is descended from Yorgh/Iron King/Vendrick
The Capital is Oolacile
The Big Crack connects to Drangleic, or somewhere near Drangleic (Volgen or Forossa or something).
Seemingly the most important fact about Yhorm, at least from a Firelinking perspective, is that he was the descendant of an ancient conqueror. This connection would apparently act as Yhorm's 'mandate' as Lord, though this Lordship was thrust on him by an insincere populace.
His lordship didn't originally involve linking the flame. The citizens of the Capital, described as the 'very people once subjugated,' was asked to be their leader, serving as a 'weighty blade and stone-hard shield' that 'lumbered on the frontlines' until the 'loss of the one he wished to protect.' At this point he cast his shield aside and added a second handle to his machete, enabling the 'smashing technique that would become the legacy of his later years.'
Eventually, Yhorm linked the fire to 'put the Profaned Flame to rest.' This had the opposite of the desired effect, as it apparently 'triggered the curse' of the Monstrosities of Sin (not that they necessarily looked or were called that at the time,) causing fire to rain down and incinerate anything human.
 |
| [curses in incomprehensible Scottish] |
Yhorm knew that the citizens of the city had little actual respect for him, viewing him more as a means to an end, and it's likely that the reclusive lord was more or less openly distrusted by his people. For this reason, one imagines, he left them a Stormruler on the off-chance he would need to be put down.
That's the basic story. Let's see if we can drill down and figure out how this connects.
Yhorm was descended from a conqueror, one who conquered the Profaned Capital, although control of the city seems to have later fallen to the original inhabitants. The identity of the conqueror isn't stated, and since we very much don't know where the Capital was, he or she is open to speculation.
One of the more popular theories is that Yhorm is descended from Wolnir, given the proximity of the Catacombs and the fact that Wolnir conquered a good portion of the world. This would also tie Yhorm to Drangleic.
Another theory is that Yhorm is descended from Sir Yorgh of Olaphis/Shulva. I've outlined previously my suspicion that Yorgh was not only a giant, but ancestor of the Iron King, Aldia, and Vendrick. The Iron King of Alken and Vendrick of Drangleic both fit the bill as conquerors and probably giants.
Another possibility is that Yhorm is descended from the Giant Lord of Dark Souls 2, an argument reinforced by the fact that the two look quite similar, not only in stature, but both wore similar-looking crowns and bore bird-like crests on their chest.
 |
| Also there's the ever-popular lions. |
It should also be noted that the sight of the Giant Lord caused the nigh-invincible and fearless Vendrick to quit the field and go to crazy lengths to ensure that he could not be made to take the Throne of Want, and thereby setting the in-game events of Dark Souls 2 in motion.
Given these possibilities it would seem likely that Yhorm is, in fact, descended from Drangleic giants. It's also a possibility that Wolnir was a part of Yorgh's lineage, although there's no evidence of this beyond the fact that he was a conqueror with a crown and apparently a giant.
The problem with these, of course, is that there's scarce evidence any of these 'kings' conquered the Capital, assuming it was in Lordran, unless one subscribes to the somewhat far-fetched idea that Vendrick's initial conquering of the Four Great Ones (as mentioned by Shanalotte,) lines up with the Dark Lord ending of Dark Souls 1. If this were true, then it would explain why the capital was conquered but later ceded back to the original inhabitants.
It would also mean that Vendrick, bastard son of Alken, himself sired a bastard in Lordran.
Before he was named lord (not to be confused with Lord, which would happen later,) Yhorm may have likely existed as most giants in Lordran, that is to say as a slave or prisoner. At some point war came to the Capital, and Yhorm was made lord specifically to lead whatever military force the indolent people could muster.
They must have been successful in fending off whatever force was arrayed against them, for there's no mention of the Capital being taken a second time.
However, at some point in the conflict Yhorm lost the one he wished to protect. We have no information about who this someone was, but we know that giants, barring extreme circumstances, seem to enjoy acting as protectors and defenders, and honorable ones at that. Conversely, and judging by the War of Fallen Giants, when roused to offensive action giants are relentless, unyielding, and unbending in their resolve.
Therefore it's entirely possible that Yhorm's lordship was the carrot, while this 'someone' was the stick kept as blackmail to ensure Yhorm didn't get any bright ideas.
 |
| "IS THAT ANOTHER WISE-ASS JOKE ABOUT MY KYPHOTIC SPINE YOU POSTURE HAVING BASTARD?!" |
We don't know what caused the loss, but if we assume the 'someone' was another giant (and not, like, a place or group of people or someone like Siegward,) then we can at least narrow it down to maybe Lothric and the Way of White. There's a dormant giant (called a Watcher Tree,) outside of Firelink Shrine. This is the only other DS2 giant in-game. Additionally, the Way of White keeps giant slaves (who have some of Wellager's men turned mercenary acting as overseers,) and being based in Irithyll/Anor Londo, would have been well-positioned to attack the Capital (again, assuming geography can at all be trusted and that events overlap to a large degree).
Yhorm linked the fire specifically to put the Profaned Flame to rest. This seems like it would have been contrary to the wishes of his 'people,' but it seems as if post-shield Yhorm would have had very little in the way of fucks to give about the wishes of his nation of lazy sadists.
The Firelinking went wrong. It's possible that the fire rain that was ushered in was the same event Vendrick had been wishing to avoid. The nature of this fire seems to be tied up in the curse of Manus, but it seems as if it was also something unique to a giant linking the flame. The fire itself may have involved the 'impenetrable' Black Flame of humanity. Given that it burned only human flesh, it seems like it could also have been something like the flame of the bonfire, which is said to warm, but not burn (torch, DS2,) but that is also capable of burning Humanity when offered as Kindling (DS1).
Regardless, this may be what caused the Profaned Flame to mostly vanish, and may also have been the event that either turned Humanity into Embers or caused the first to be replaced by the latter. Yhorm's cinematics, as well as the phases of the boss fight, seem to place special emphasis on the fact that he is embered. The Watchers, for example, don't ember until the Legion as a group is defeated, at which point the remains of the Wolf's Blood aggregates into a single, embered Watcher.
Further, it may be that this Profaned fire is responsible for some or all of the 'burnt black' hollows we encounter in various locations, particularly the Irithyll slaves.
 |
| "Hhrrrrrrrrrnnnnnngggghhhh!!!" - Aristotle |
The Last Catarine
We can perhaps learn more about Yhorm by analyzing the actions of his 'dear friend' Siegward. Siegward, of course, is either a reincarnation or relative of Siegmeyer from the first game. Whereas Siegmeyer was somewhat timid and bumbling, Siegward exhibits true knightly resolve, if a similar lack of brainpower. The reason for this may involve Siegmeyer's soul having become 'twisted' with Solaire's in some fashion.
We first encounter Sir Onion at the tower of the Undead Settlement, where he seems to be trying to make contact with Help Anytime, who is, not to put too fine a point on it, a giant. He reveals that he is also an unkindled, and implies that he takes his duty quite seriously, though his duty seems to involve 'letting the Sun shine' on his old friend Yhorm. He helps us dispatch a Fire Demon (more on these guys in a later post,) before joining us in a toast.
Probably unrelated, but the area where we fight the demon has a high concentration of 'Catherine' wheels. Catherine is probably the root word used in Catarina, from the Greek word kotharos, meaning 'pure, unadulterated; clear, sunny; clean'. The wheel received its moniker from Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was sentenced to be broken on one such wheel, but who shattered the wheel at a touch. The legend of Catherine was, according to Wikipedia, likely based on Hypatia of Alexandria, which is peak Christian behavior if you know anything about Hypatia.
Later, after encountering Patches (disguised as Siegward,) in the Cathedral of the Deep, we find the knight trapped in the bottom of a well, apparently having been tricked out of his armor and kicked down by the Unbreakable. We can assume that Siegward was at the Cathedral in an attempt to get answers re: Yhorm from the giant slaves found there.
Siegward seems to have made quite the impression on Patches, as he'll later disguise himself as Siegward to save Greirat if Siegward's quest is broken (reportedly, I always seem to bork it up when I try). Later, much later, after Patches hollows - and is thereby freed from whatever terrible grudge drove him in undeath for all those centuries - he reinvents himself as Lapp, a character whose personality closely mirrors our oft-pickled onion, even engaging in a charmingly wrong version of Siegward's toast.
Siegward then moves on to Irithyll, where his spirits are noticeably darker, mentioning a 'grave promise' in need of keeping in the Profaned Capital.
He gets captured, and locked in one of the deepest cells in the dungeon. The key to his cell informs us that the first prisoner was a 'lone giant,' and although there is a giant in the larger, adjacent cell, there's no way of knowing if s/he was the original inhabitant.
Upon release he makes his way to the Capital, where he joins us for the fight against Yhorm. If successful in putting down his old friend - seemingly in accordance with Yhorm's wishes - he wishes us luck with our duty and, his own duty completed, dies peacefully.
Siegward, like Siegmeyer, is in some sense a Warrior of Sunlight, although one that relies on Emit Force rather than Lightning Spear (and let's be honest: EF is a better spell like 90% of the time).
If nothing else, Siegward let's us know that Yhorm was honorable, as one would have to be to win the friendship of someone as noble as the Catarine Knight, and honor was seemingly in short supply at the Capital. Yhorm left his other Stormruler with Siegward, one imagines, because the giant probably knew that the people of the Capital, even if they had survived, would have been unable or unwilling to put the ever-burning giant back down.
 |
| Nah, homie, you helped me get some decent pictures and +10 my crossbow. |
So how did a Knight of Catarina end up friends with a Drang giant?
Siegmeyer, before he became undead and journeyed to Lordran, had a wife and at least one child, Sieglinde. Sieglinde, who may have been the most powerful human character in the first game, followed her father to Lordran. Upon rescuing her from the Duke's Archives, she frequently wishes that her father would just stay put, even though it goes against his adventuring nature. After finally finding her father the first time she says that she was able to pass her mother's last words to him, though we don't know what those words were. She also mentions that, should Meyer go hollow, she'll 'just have to kill him again,' implying that, well, that she killed him at some point.
Later, in Ash Lake, we find her over the corpse of her hollowed father, who finally reached his journey's end. She tells us, the Chosen Undead, that she intends to return to Catarina.
Later (or slightly earlier, depending on the timeline,) a Catarina Knight makes his/her way to Drangleic. We find their armor scattered across the three DLC areas, and find the knight him/herself (if there's only one of them,) as an invader near the Watcher Tree that drops the Giant Tree Seeds in NG+.
There's really nothing else about the character. Their armor is really old, they managed to reach really high-level areas, and their current (for the Cursebearer,) location is the Fallen Giant Fort, possibly defending a fallen giant.
This does, however, let us know that at least one onion knight made it to Drangleic, saw all it had to offer, and possibly lived to tell the tale.
So they would've known all about giants.
Does it connect to Siegward? Maybe.
Carim
This section will outline Carim as it was in the first game, with Carim's merging with Thorolund/The Way of White being detailed, well, in the next post, actually, which will also deal with Aldritch's story. So, yknow, trigger warning for that.
Carim is generally regarded as the place where bastards come from. Not, like, illegitimate children bastards, but like, bastard bastards. Murderous cut-throat types. Lautrec, Arstor, Eygon: humorless men that excel at violence.
In Carim they worship goddesses, dark goddesses. Fina, arguably Velka, and Caitha, to be precise. As with anything in Souls, the fact that Carim is at least partially matriarchal and seemingly acting against Thorolund and Anor Londo, it's possible that a good deal of the dark tales surrounding the place involve more than a bit of political spin.
Because, really, who's worse: a villain that believes himself a saint, or a scoundrel without pretense or comforting delusions?
Lautrec the Embraced, generally, sets the tone for Carim in the mind of the player. He kills poor Anastacia after we free him from prison, and what kind of asshole does something like that?
Y'know, kills someone undergoing a fate worse than death?
The thing is, though, Lautrec, like other Carim Knights, seems to be a Grade A sociopath. But from a...let's call it Machiavellian perspective, even rank criminal scum can be turned to noble purpose. People like Lautrec, in a sense, are tools. An unrepentant murderer, embraced by the right forces and pressed to the right duty, may yet accomplish good in this world.
Not saying that's what happened. But maybe it is.
Pardoner Oswald is generally the next Carimite, if not the first, that the Chosen Undead encounters. He, like Lautrec, is striking in how openly sinister he is. It would seem almost perverse to suggest that such a man - if he is a man - could be anything but evil.
And yet.
Velka values intelligence in her clergy, rather than faith. This is almost unheard of in religion, and indeed most faiths treat the ability to question, to honestly reflect and embrace doubt, to imagine things in a way radically different, to confront one's cognitive dissonance, to tear down the comforting lies and sweet delusions that make society possible, as very nearly the ultimate sin.
For has not the lord said that the fool proclaims in his heart that there is no god? Such a fool is corrupt, their deeds vile, and surely no good can be worked by such blasphemers.
Velka doesn't want worship. Velka wants justice, and justice, the punishment of sin - ever passing rare - requires smarts and a willingness to get one's hands dirty. And this is the dirt of hard choices, of consequence and infamy, of moving beyond the thought experiment and saying 'this man must die for the good of others; this path is right, and hang the problematics; this action must be taken and may we who take it be judged in the light of all the victims of all the wars that never will be.'
Such a mixture, of true righteousness, divorced from piety and false comfort, beyond nihilism and past the constraints of good and evil - to not balk, to not take the easy out of continued reflection: to act in justice against a world unust - is a thing almost as rare as justice, and perhaps for the same reasons.
This kind of person acts not because they are a monster - though one is at peace with the fact that the world will in all likelihood view them as such - but because they have seen the true monsters for what they are, and they act to protect the blind who will offer only curses should they succeed.
Because, in a very real sense, all who wake are monsters to this world.
So come, young sinner, unburden yourself and be free.
 |
| That's a lot of bird poop. |
A Carimite we know only through reputation is Earl Arstor the Impaler, he of the Purging Stones and Bite Rings and Shotels and lances covered in rotten meat. He seems much less sympathetic than Lautrec or Oswald, themselves not easy men to sympathize with, but it may be worth pointing out that the Church that condemned the Impaler Tepes as a demon was the same Church that hailed him as a hero.
Alright, that got quite a bit heavier than I expected it to, but I think it's probably warranted, considering the topics to be dealt with in the upcoming post.
Until then: Hug your kids and check to make sure you're not accidentally championing something directly upstream from a genocide, because you'd be surprised how easy it is to do that.
