Be'Torn

A Fancier Symbol of Be'Torn

The Perfected Bow

The All-consuming Flame

Forge

Knowledge

Order

Trickery

Strength

Ambition

Zeal

Blood

City

Glory

Vengeance

OathBreaker

Be'Torn is the third god of War the world or Relden has known. Before him was Maglubiyet, and Gruumsh was before him. Each God of war was supplanted by a better warrior.

Be'Torn’s followers believe that the universe is a harsh place where one's ability to succeed in warfare is the metric that will determine how worthy they are to exist. This applies to individuals, races, nations, worlds and even planes of existence. Life is a game based around the survival of the fittest. The universe is in its infancy and through war and battle it will one day be brought to order, where only the strongest who have earned the right to exist through victory in battle will remain.

Be'Torn’s philosophy as taught to his followers has three basic maxims in the form of short parables. They are:

1. Be as the sword.
2. Be as the bow.
3. Be as the flame.

The sword, the bow, and the flame are all allegories for specific styles/philosophies of warfare and survival.

### The Sword

The sword is one single piece of iron that is reliable, steadfast and sturdy. It strikes hard and rips through anything it comes into contact with. To be as a sword means to be strong on your own, and to become stronger through testing yourself in battle. The warrior is the sword and conflict is the whetstone on which they are sharpened. Through asserting our strength in conflict we test ourselves, push our limits and become stronger for it.

The Maxim of the sword is considered the least powerful of the three maxims, but it is also the most reliable.

### The Bow

By itself, a string, a wooden shaft and a small pointy stick are far inferior to an iron sword. But together, working in tandem, they are superior. Cunning and cleverness can turn the benign into the useful. We can become exponentially stronger when we use our minds to find the greatest strategy, tactic, or ploy to turn the tide in our favor; using what we have at our disposal to its greatest potential. To be as the bow means to turn weakness into strength, and disadvantage into advantage with our intellect.

In the same way a bow is superior to a sword, the Maxim of the Bow is superior to the Maxim of the Sword. But the bow only works as long as the bow has arrows to fire, and as long as every part of the bow functions properly. If the string snaps, the shaft breaks, or the arrow is crooked, the entire bow becomes useless. One miscalculation, overlooked detail, or unseen moving part can cause even the best-laid plans to fail. This is why if your bow ever fails you, it is good to have a sword to fall back on.

### The Flame

A flame will expand and assert itself on anything it comes in contact with, but more importantly, douse a flame only partially, and it will come back stronger, hotter and more deadly the second time. As long as one ember of fire remains, it will come back. A flame is what it is and it cannot be intimidated, dissuaded or discouraged.

The Maxim of the Flame demands that a warrior's will be unbreakable and unrelenting. A true warrior asserts their will over all that is beneath them, or weak enough to fall before them. The same way fire can melt stone and swallow cities whole, a warrior whose spirit is like a flame, can topple any opposition. An unyielding force of will is the Maxim of the Flame.

The Maxim of Flame is the most powerful Maxim of them all. Unwavering dedication to victory will bring you success in the long run, but a fire needs fuel, a spark to light it, and time to grow hot. Fires can melt stone and swallow entire cities, but most fires are stamped out in their infancy. This is why this Maxim is the most powerful Maxim of all, but not nearly as easy to pull off as the others.

### The Warrior

Any warrior who masters all three maxims, sword, bow, and flame, is said to understand the Maxim of the Warrior and will become an unstoppable force of war. The strong overcome, the cunning adapt, the willful control, and the warriors survive.

Members of Be'Torn's army use sapphire gemstones on their gauntlets to signify which maxims they have mastered. A Blue Gemstone represents mastery of the sword. A green sapphire represents mastery of the bow. A purple sapphire represents mastery of the flame.

If a warrior has mastered all three maxims, they are permitted to wear a black sapphire instead.

## Appearance

Be'Torn was a human with long graying hair and a full beard, with red glowing tattoos covering his entire body.

## Time of Troubles

Be'Torn ascended during the time of troubles. When Maglubiyet was cast down, he attempted to gain control of his most loyal nation, Edath. Maglubiyet brought all the generals and warlords of Edath to heel, all but Be'Torn the mortal. Be'Torn had been a follower of Maglubiyet for many years, but he saw a flaw in Maglubiyet's philosophy. Maglubiyt understood the maxim of the sword and the maxim of the bow. But he didn;t understand the maxim of the flame. And because of this, he underestimated Be'Torn's army and their unconquerable will. Be'Torn met Maglubiyet on the field of battle, and while they both had combat prowess and strategies no other could match, Be'Torn's sheer force of unbreakable will won him the day, and he struck down the god of War, beating him at his own game.