The Book of Master Sui
Contents
If a Fountain Crashes in the Woods, Will YOU Hear it?
No Pain=No Gain
We live in a tough World, and only by being tough will we learn to be all that we can be in it.
It is incumbent upon All within Creation to fulfil the utmost of their potential. Or at least strive to. This cannot be achieved by sitting an waiting for the opportunity to prove oneself to chance along. One must stand up, and journey forth to make ones own opportunities.
The Path will be long, and arduous, but this must not stop one from walking it. There is little to match the satisfaction of a day's fruitful labour.
Democracy Doesn't Work
People, left to their own devices, will follow self-centred motivations. Most are not, and cannot be, educated enough or informed enough to make decisions for their fellows, never mind for those they have not met.
Important decisions must take into account the good of the Whole, rather than allowing each Part to argue for its own Supremacy, and allowing Popularity to overcome Purpose. Leaders must Lead, not allow themselves to be Led.
Straight-Talking is Preferable to Weasel-Words
Hiding one's intentions behind a mask of deceit can only lead to others following suit. The spreading of mistrust and misdirection is contrary to The Way of Creation.
While practicality and Custom may mean that Bad News is couched in softer terms, or that care is taken not to reveal Secrets to The Enemy, it should always be done in the knowledge that The Truth need not be hidden.
Look always to others, and how they speak. Trust not those that seek to misdirect and cover their meanings, rather go to those that speak plainly, even when the words may hurt. The wounds will heal quicker then the pain brought by lies and deceit.
Breadth of Knowledge Leads to Better Understanding
To Know Creation is, and must be, to Know all Parts of Creation. As the farmer who Knows only of wheat, and not barley, or the Messenger who knows the Northern Streets but not the Southern, the Lore Master who studies only certain fields will soon find themselves wanting.
No Part of Creation is beneath study. No Part is unworthy of Learning. From the Ways of the Silver Eels of Soba to the machinations of the Realm Houses, to the growth of Redwood Pines in Mayavati, all is of Interest.
As the Farmer cannot grow crops without knowledge of Weather, or Seasons or Pests, nor the blacksmith shoe horses with no ken of their temperament, or grasp of how the Ore is refined, so a Lore Master cannot be said to understand a subject without having, at the very least, a good knowledge of the subjects around it. And these lead on to other related subjects, which must be studied. All things are related, and to learn one without another is to ignore the relationships, and to forego Proper Knowledge of that which one presumes to Understand.
What is Sown, So Shall it Be Reaped
Creation is, by its very Nature, a Mirror. If you bring to it darkness, deceit and misdeeds, so it shall turn you dark, and deceived and mistaken. Yet bring it Light, and Hope, and Nourishment then you shall find yourself in the Light, Hope-Filled and Nourished.
This is the Justice of Creation, and while Creation itself endeavours to fulfil this edict, it is also upon all of those who dwell within Creation to uphold it. Not only must Wrong Thought and Wrong Deeds be stopped, but also Wrong Doers must face the consequences of their actions, the better to show them the Right Path. Conversely, Righteous actions must be rewarded, so that the Righteous may know that they have done Right.
The People Are Creation
At the very heart of Creation are its people. Creation would be nothing without them. It is, therefore, the Duty of all of Creation to look to the well-being of the Peoples of Creation, that they may live long, and prosper.
Deeds that harm the People of Creation inherently harm Creation itself. Deeds that harm the fabric of Creation inherently harm the People of Creation.
All who would declare themselves to be Friends of Creation, and not tear it asunder, must tend to the fate of the People therein, for they are at the Heart of Creation. Without them, Creation is as The Void.
The Wealth of Creation Should be Spent, not Hoarded
Hard work will provide you with the fruits of your labours. But like the apples and pears of the trees, this fruit is not to be stored away where none may partake of it.
Those who secretly build treasure vaults for their wealth, and let none even look within, have lost sight of the reason the Wealth exists. The Rewards of Creation are to be used to improve Creation, and the lot of its People.
While one may save to guard against misfortune, and not fritter ones wealth away on meaningless acts, do not let fear of the Future bring Famine to the Present.
On The Nature of Spirits, Demons, Elementals and Others
Spirits
Many things take the name Spirit, but the Wise use the word in a particular manner.
To be a Spirit, a being must be in tune with the flows of Essence.
Demons
Demons are a class of Spirit that draw their Nature from the depths of Malpheas.
While some sorcerers declare that Demons are useful tools, to be used against their foul Masters, they are never to be trusted. The very Nature of Malpheas means that even the act of summoning such a being is harmful to Creation.
As you do not put out a fire by adding logs to it, you do not stop the Enemies of Creation by bringing more of them from their Hells.
Elementals
Spirits aligned with the Elemental materials of Creation.
While often terrifying in appearance and demeanour, these creatures are a natural consequence of the flows of Essence through Creation, and they endeavour to fulfil their allotted role.
Wood
These Elementals have mastery over the ways of Life and Death, and concern themselves with the order of The Natural World.
Water
Like the swirling seas, these creatures are of movement and manoeuvrability.
Fire
The passions of The Heart drives the Fire Elementals.
Earth
Solid, like the Rock, these creatures place emphasis on Stability and Endurance.
Air
Masters of knowledge and language.
