Followers of Saint Sage

## Knowledge Path

Icon resembling the Domestic Path Flag of Pentawardism

This sub-religion is also known as the Knowledge path and is one of five Pentawardism paths. The path belongs to Saint Sage and often consists of scholars and physicians. This path’s values can be summarized by using one’s knowledge to benefit oneself and others.

## Path Symbols

The main symbol for this path is an open book with bubbles coming out of it. The book part of the symbol represents Sage’s Spellbook, which is an artifact of this saint. The path also really loves books and research. The main colors are Sugercane Green and Cactus Green. Cacti can be smelted to get the darker green, which contrasts well against the other, lighter green. The other reference, Sugarcane, links to the process of making paper which is then used in books.

The path is also linked to the season of the changing year and the element of magic. The major seasons were already covered by the other paths, but the point where the year ticks over links with remembering history, both the past year and others. This link towards remembering the past and bringing it forward is one of the practices of the path. As for the element of magic, the followers of Sage recognize the fact magic as its own element, at least spiritually. Magic is used in enchantments, alchemy, and connects to the soul. This is why Magic users primarily fall under this path due to the emphasis on knowledge. Additionally, the experience points required for enchantments are associated with the color of green, so that is part of it.

## Key Values

The main values of this path are curiosity, studiousness, integrity, wisdom, and accuracy.

Accuracy is one of the more straightforward ones, as it’s about being correct with the information with one gives to another. This is important when one deals in medicine, as being inaccurate could worsen someone’s condition or even kill an individual. It’s also important in keeping history straight, and is one of the values brought over from the original Sainthood Scholar Society.

Two of the ways to gain accuracy is through practicing integrity and studiousness. Studiousness is about devoting oneself to gaining knowledge. It links to accuracy as learning information can help catch any pre-existing errors and avoid any future errors. Integrity is about standing firm on one’s principles and being honest even when it is difficult respects the principle of accuracy itself. Both of these values can end up being unhealthy in their own way. Studiousness can lead to someone foregoing proper self care, while being too focused on integrity can cause unneeded and unwanted stress.

In contrast to integrity, which is about standing firm in the present and past, curiosity is about being both open to new experiences and passionate to experience them. Obviously, in the Knowledge path, it usually is linked to learning about the past, but it also is about learning new facts about one’s friends and coworkers or learning new skills such as cooking or blacksmithing.

Wisdom is about the ability to give good insight due to a mixture of knowledge, experience, and proper decision-making. The other four values are used to acquire this ability. Without studiousness, a person wouldn’t have the knowledge to share. Without integrity, one lacks the confidence to stand firm on that knowledge. Without curiosity, one wouldn’t have the experience to draw upon. Without accuracy, one can’t make proper decisions.  It takes time to master wisdom, which is why it’s not part of the summary statement for this path, but it is considered to be possible by its members.

## Key Proverbs

Here are some proverbs / sayings tied to this path.

* “A fool forgets the past, while the wise embrace its lessons.”
* “If one only looks for failure, that is all they will see; if one only looks for victory, they will be blind to all flaws.”
* “Wisdom may begin with a foolish question.”
* “When one ceases to learn, one ceases to live.”
* “Words can cut deeper than even the sharpest sword.”
* “Constant lies bring destruction on those who wield them.”
* “A moral code is something hard to uphold, but important to keep.”
* “Warriors require knowledge, or else they’ll be fools; likewise, scholars must find value in fighting or else fall prey to cowardice.”

## Trivia

* Alternatives to path colors are emerald green and vine green. Vines were considered too decorative for use as a reference for one of the two colors. Emerald got replaced by sugarcane after pumpkin had replaced copper for the Artisan path. Sugarcane, after all, had more symbolism beyond just matching colors.