Scriptures of the Paladins, chapter 3

# **The Third Scripture**

*1- Avzaya has given me the laws of the ancient ones. The laws of the righteous ones that lived in accordance with peace and despised evil. For indeed, I am an enemy of Evil. Shall thou choose this way then thy abode is well known to thee. Indeed, Amurada shall order thy dead soul to be grasped, which shall then be handed over to the spirits of the underdark. They shall use you as their slaves and torment shall befall you unlike any before. Now I shall reveal the ancient laws of Avzaya.*

*2- His laws are many, but strictly uphold fourteen; Thou must obey the father, the judge, and the Shah. Thou must never oppress women and children, nor the weak and needy one. Thou must not lie and cheat in coin. Thou must not harass or assault, nor kill the innocent. Thou must not spill food or water, or other necessities of life. Thou must not harm creation for no reason. Thou must let creation choose their ways of beliefs and not disrespect them, nor look down on their tongues or skin. Thou must never desecrate an oath. Thou must never expose a secret, nor threaten to do such. Thou must not look down on the poor and needy, no matter thy status. Thou must cleanse thyself and be pure, and for the women I say: when what must come comes, then seclude thyself and wash occasionally, for one must meet death in a clean state. Thou must not utter harmful speech, nor curse. Thou must not commit adultery or fornication, indeed the one who does so shall be killed. Thou must not steal, nor destroy, nor vandalise.*

*3- And not of me is he who refuses the fourteen. And not of me is he who abhors and shuns the poor and needy, He who refuses to behold with respect the living creation, He who leads the good to wickedness, He who makes the wells waterless and the pastures desolate, He who spills water and food, He who desecrates an oath, He who exposes secrets, He who says hurtful speech, He who commits adultery and fornication, He who destroys and ruins, He who lets fly his weapon against women, children, and the innocent, An enemy of me he is and a destroyer of Avzaya's principles. These laws shall undo the work of the evil doers, No more shall the wicked Roh, rule over the lives of the righteous. Uphold the fourteen laws, for they are what remains of the original laws of Avzaya, and they are what the Paladins held as their constitution. And the other laws and principles mentioned are also his way, but the fourteen ranks as the highest of importance.*

*4- And when I asked Avzaya about the land of peace, he told me that his chosen people were those who followed his ways. Indeed, the people who uphold his ways are the best. Truly their land is blessed. Wherever they wander light is what follows. Whoever they conquer happiness overcomes their sorrows.*

*5- Indeed the Avestan is the best of rivers, next to it I was chosen. And indeed from it the blessed land is formed. When the astral deities formed the earth Roh wanted to join them. But verily Avzaya spat on him and a drop of his spit landed on the earth and formed the Avestan. Thus it is a river formed from the repulse of evilness.*

*6-  And truly when the astral deities formed the earth, the deity of Deception created gold from his urine, and silver from his sweat. Why are you devoted to them? Why are you devoted to urine and sweat? It is purified when one spends it on good causes. So spend and do not deceive. Spend and be honest, and do not engage in corruption. Do not be corrupt, and do not help with creating it.*

*7- And indeed thou must make thy sons swim in the Avestan when he turns seven, accompany him on a boat, and make him withstand the hardships of the waves, for life is filled with hardships. When your daughters bleed, conceal them in a room and let them bathe for three nights from the water of the Avestan, mixed with the best of fragrances. Then when that is done they are considered women of Daera. Upon her is to guard herself until marriage. And when she bleeds again she must conceal herself and wash occasionally, and she must not eat excessively for it will diminish her beauty. The men must be fit, for they should be a guardian to their family and to their land, all the Paladins were men of great physique. Let the laws of the ancients be manifested in thy kingdoms and households. Mighty is he who does so, for these laws are perfect, our ancestors accepted and held on to them the moment they heard of it. Great is the nation who does so, and even greater are its people. Respect them, revere them, obey them. For they follow my way, and I follow a beautiful ancient teaching.*

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