Jezebeth * Musings of a 'Natural Follower of Bane'

[leviticus]

# entry 53

For common people the artic is a harsh, inhospitable place, but the conditions there are precisely what a true wolf needs. Though my goal is not merely to survive, but to thrive. Although. A certain ‘goodness’ thrives so well in this world because someone expends effort on it. NO MORE.

People will notice soon their sleep has fled and their dreams are over, and that it is no longer dawn. And after a little while they will long to gather dust and iron for another body… a body worthy of this world. HIS WORLD.

If we want to learn whether men or women are really honorable, see if their lives are forged and moulded by humility, modesty and valor. If not, their existence is not genuine, only surface and showy, and they are unreality. DISFIGURED.

Pearls shaped by tempest and storm have more than an pretending outward shell, are more than a hollow sculpture shaped by the artisans of this time. If people think their qualities are fed by their vanity, pride and boasting, they are merely hosting an empty show, a show without sap, a show without marrow, a show without substance. They are then like saffron, which never thrives so well as when it is puliverized under feet. VAINGLORIOUS.

Those punctilious about self-conscious beauty, vanity, seeking for honour or exact it, not only lay themselves open to criticism and degradation, but just like the peacock opening his showy tail, as a matter of fact exhibit the ugliness of their body. Just like flowers which may be beautiful when they grow, they wither instantly when gathering them, merely showing they are actually weak. SPINELESS.

Mist drifts away at dawn before me, leaving but dew in the grass. But it shall rise and gather into clouds, darken the world and fall down as rain and hail. And although it shall not teach one to be fearless, it will be a more than a glorious start to thrive. And when the pain finally kicks in, smile, smile as it will be the only truth. VERACITY.

A well-conditioned mind will not use its energy and waste its powers upon such sorry trifles as weather conditions, positions or ranks. It has other things to do and leaves all that to those who live in vain. Competing with oneself is more important than competing with others. Do not try and withstand the storm, but become the storm. SEPERATE SHELLS FROM PEARLS.

[leviticus]

# entry 71

Peace…

Never have I ever come across anything as rotten as peace. It weakens nations all across the world. Strength, endurance and leadership are truly being put to the test by warfare. Virtues, when one is physically at ease, cannot appear in times of peace. Certain symptoms that may reveal clues to underlying diseases cannot fully arise. A cough may indicate a problem with a dry throat, but there might be just more to that as well… and since people rarely cough purely for their amusement...

How can a nation properly defend itself when it’s not aware of its shortcomings? When they do not learn about the total result of the diseases slumbering within their ranks? How can they survive when their attention -vital of importance- is distracted by mollycoddling and tea parties, by squabbling over positions and by expressing empathy towards the beggars in the street? How can a person maintain a high moral when mental energies are being suppressed by the dullness created by the participants building a ‘good’, peaceful society?

Only the strong will rise when you hit them on the head, but not if you indulge them into lengthy liturgies on how beautiful dawn can be, or which spices are better or not better on which food. Neither if you send them through the senseless stupidity of meaningless exercise programs, or have them make pointless sacrifices. There is nothing in such topics for them to exercise both their muscles, their deposition and their energies upon... nothing that hones both mind and body and keeps them focused the very moment a surprise attack is launched upon them. When their interest is not excited, they tend to moral decadence since their true powers and any of their potential faculties are asleep.

Only a blind man may treat color as something that is nonexistent... and only the fool may refuse to believe that it may be worthwhile to be at peace…

[leviticus]

# entry 79

Journeying through these lands was like opening a doorway that held nothing. Some actually believe they are extending an opportunity to this region, but in reality lead only to more disappointment. Healthy men do not push themselves to the limit, their bodies regressing into a condition comparable with those of an absolute pacifist. Potentially gifted and talented females relax into the errors of which they once claimed they would free themselves from, their minds growing dense and dull as they are caught up in domestic chores.

A silent confession of ignorance is it when the ‘robust’ do not understand how to use their life moments and energy more effectively. Born blind the ‘brilliant’ are if they think they have to shoulder the burden of all housework, while they remain idle when important challenges arise. While they are increasing in number in times of peace, children are denied the truth of tomorrow’s world. Often protected from discomfort, disappointment and frustration, they are deprived of other opportunities to develop their own inner resources and talents to deal with what is inevitable.

Refreshingly it would be if parents would recognize the syndrome, and if they would desensitize their progeny to pain. If they would send out their boys to kill so they were taught survivability, and if no thought was ever given to the girls’ comfort or enjoyment, since only a strong woman produces a strong child. Strong enough to withstand the storm that is unmistakably coming...

[leviticus]

# entry 95

Those who make themselves look like sheep, shall be eaten by wolf. There are many people who criticise us, and yet we are a vital part in this existence. They claim the Black Lord to be a tyrant, cruel and oppressive, and yet He arrives when the world is sick and merely longs for amputation.

Those who oppose His teachings, also forgot how He once was crucial for the victory upon the Queen of Bronze, His analysis and His understanding of the true enemy unprecedented. He simply is not about farming, or trade, or sickenly charity.

Those who claim the Black Lord to be a beast, should then visualize a beast joining the battlefield with a sword more lethal than anything else. With a shield as versatile as it is strong, with a force and command in His hand, and with a clutch that is swift, fighting with power for His world.

Those who ultimately decide to resume their persistent petitioning against the Iron General should be treated as brave, as that means they for once stood up for something, sometime in their lives. But if opposing narrow-minded individuals, factions or deities, and removing them from this world is the role we -true Banites- must fulfill, then so be it.

[leviticus]

# entry 99

Warfare is changing, and we are moving towards an age in which people become less directly hostile. Any rules of engagement, whether they are military, social, or political, are changing. Upfront confrontations with enemies will become a rare feat, and the world will turn less competitive than ever as outward aggression gets discouraged. The battlefield will never end however. People will go underground, and attack unpredictably. So called friendship will become a way to mask any barbaric desires, as only a ‘friend’ will know where to hurt. So called alliances may seem to offer support and assistance, while in reality each faction merely advances its own interests at one another’s expense. Also moral warfare will arise, in which enemies play the victim, making others feel guilty over insignificant things they have done.

I myself cannot imagine a battleground solely filled with this sort of pathetic ‘warriors’, slippery, devious, and polished of tongue. And I wonder if the world rather has it this way, a world dotted with so-called peaceful communities, never fighting anymore save in self-defense, while the true advantage still lies with a warlike society. Such society’s houses are stronger, larger and definitely more efficient in use. Such society’s philosophy would be superior, its inhabitants physically stronger, healthier, braver and above all more active. The organization would be firmer, and the loyalty would be much greater. It would be persistent, determined and intelligent, and wading into battle would happen with joyous abandon.

It would be Lord Bane’s kingdom...

[leviticus]

# entry 102

Fear is the equivalent of unpreparedness. Authorities are responsible for a population’s fears. No right they have for their citizens becoming amateurs, and nor do the citizens themselves. Such a disgrace it is to grow old behind tall city walls, without the chance of experiencing or seeing the beauty and strength of which a body is really capable. As long as a mind is put to the task, anyone can really do anything to train the source of their true strength. They don’t have to become indestructable as that would not make them brave, rather thoughtless.

It’s about moving forward regardless the pain and effort it costs in order to rise out above others, and distinct themselves in their respective fields. Goals without plans are merely wishes in the limb. Continued effort and the desire at excelling as an attitude, is key. The pain of today is tomorrow’s strength.

Nowadays, they whimper and fret over the threat coming from the Dragonspear Castle, complaining the devils and other outsiders are too strong for them to defeat. I’ve not adopted an opinion yet on this matter myself. The devil army may perhaps be a blessing, perhaps a lesson. But one thing is for certain. Wherever societies remain like this, we will keep continue spreading fear… with everything we have.

Not until the world finally learns... but until the world is -ours-.

[leviticus]

# entry 115

I watch and see people fooling around with others. And once they are done, some sort of an exchange appears to happen, and the fooling starts all over again, often within particular groups of the population. It’s almost something like incest, and far beneath my level I have to admit to even watch it. But the part in all this that strikes me, is that these are practically all voluntarily acts. They do not seek an escape from the house they are in. Of course this goes on and on, as no one any longer seems convinced that one day a long bony finger might emerge from clouds, pointing at them while a chilling voice thunders from above ‘You shall not…’

They are silently losing their faith in their gods, even while they claim their deity proclaims this or that, and ‘things’ will happen. Rarely in my life have I watched such a lot of hypocrites. I only watch and stay cause here there is an opportunity for the Black Lord. Once they are naked in the dark, screaming and shouting for help, they will find there is only one solid and true foundation within the walls of the new house that starts surrounding them. They will praise Him and they will even allow Him to manipulate their minds, just as they allowed others to manipulate them... cause they’ll know there shall be order again.

They shall learn the benefits of darkness, not only focusing anymore on the color of things as they appear, but also as they truly come. They’ll learn about the other monsters and ghosts, like those that live inside them. It will be a journey so unlike the one their current life is, but hard work will kick the talents that currently don’t work hard. In the end, they’ll learn it wasn’t the darkness that was surrounding them they should have feared... but the darkness in their own hearts.

[leviticus]

# entry 121, something that looked more like the preparation of some speech

One day we will speak mouth to mouth when your heart wanders wailing with the restless wind. And if you do not speak, I will at first endure it, and I shall wait like night with astral vigil. But keep in mind… dawn shall not come. Nor shall ‘darker days’. I do not live by your weird rules or your old fashioned views, often imposed by your deities. Those would stifle me, and by the time I’d learn them all, I would be at the end of it. If something were to come, it would be sterner days.

Your lives can be really simple, but you insist on making them complicated. Only fools believe what all their teachers in life tell them. Thanks to the Black Lord, I have the capacity to govern my life, and to determine which parts are accurate. Bodies achieve what their minds believe, a strong conviction preceding great actions. If I would be born a thousand times, I’d still be a thousand times what I would become, my conviction an impregnable fortress.

Terror happens to be one of the best means there are, cause it drives people even harder than their fear for a sudden death. It demoralizes those who do not believe, but above all unites those who do. The world is to the strongest souls, yet those who adapt… may survive.

Join us, help us beat down doors so hard that the universe would shake, and the rest of mankind stands back stupefied. One population, one Kingdom, and only the real god...

[leviticus]

# entry 136

In the beginning my Dreadmaster often spoke to me with iron sentences -cold and harsh-, the words he used sinking deep into my heart, and stirring up feelings into some sort of rebellion. But more important, and that was his true lesson, they awakened within me a chain of vital thought. The moment I realized, it was a new and special revelation in the worship of Bane. It dispelled any mysteries in life I had ever pondered over, made me forget things against which my at the time youthful understanding had struggled. More, life became drastically simple to me since all I had to deal with at some point was pain...

My best teacher ever was my last mistake. The moment where I tried to take his life. After that, I learned how to turn the pain into power, and not just the physical pain he caused to me. I learned that today’s pain was tomorrow’s strength, even as he every day... every hour, every random moment handed out pain like candy during the time I was growing into his cohort. And I was growing not just physically either. Through it, I learned everything in life that is necessary to survive, things like patience and paying attention being two of them. I learned there is a time where you learn your lesson... and a time where you apply the lesson…

Like that one time when I mocked the Nine by painting their symbol on my armor, and taught a defying village the lessons in life that really matter, repeating them until all were learned, and sustaining the Change that was inevitable...

Hidden: show

Song

[leviticus]

# entry 139

Friendship? Why bother with something like friends? It’s such a waste of good energy.

Enemies on the other hand, they really bring the gifts. Many gifts. For one, they motivate you, and make you focus your convictions and beliefs. The perfect opportunity also to find someone of whom you think embodies your anti-ideals. An example of an enemy to focus on. It makes you grow confident and inspired, keeps your mind and body awake. They also give you a standard you can use to judge.

Tough opponents then, they even bring out the best in you, cause you to excel. The better your opponent, the higher your reward, since after all... you are not finished when you are defeated. You are finished when you quit. Should you find yourself waylaid by a powerful enemy, praise Bane as it’s a sign that you have become meaningful and important enough to be a target. Relish the attention, grab the chance to prove your worth.

And once you have your enemies, use them to gather our supporters, polarize them till the end. They will fight alongside you more fiercely when feeling hatred. No friendships required in order to advance our cause. As long as you are at war with others, you will be at your best. Cause once you have no rivals or opponents left, you may lose your sense of proportion, and it may turn into your undoing, erase your relevance in this existence.


Of course we shall cross paths with someone more aggressive, more calculating, more ruthless than us. Such encounters are inevitable. Never though conciliate nor compromise with them as their desires will have no limits either. They would try to disarm us, use it as a weapon upon us. Instead, we will grab the opportunity to harden ourselves, to make clear there shall be no middle ground, no resolution. Never lay down your arms or entrust them things if they stand outside our Faith.

See our enemies like the world’s floor below your feet. There’s already gravity to train muscle, but that force of resistance is as single source never enough. Use the enemy to walk upon, gain firmness and strength as you walk, climb, clamber. Without them you’d lose your bearings, your sense of proportion. Without them... you’d be like a fish swimming around in a cauldron, unaware you won’t last the day...

[leviticus]

# entry 145

According to many we serve a so called dark deity.

And what about nature then? Nature, is both dark and light, it consists of both life and death, and it consists of everything else along with its opposite. Wolves and sheep, hunters and prey, exploiters and those who are easy to pick. The beautiful thing about humankind though is that nature allows us to choose which we want to be. Many aren’t even aware they have that choice. They should be grateful we are here for their wake up call, since nature no matter what takes it course. Sparrows can learn to live like hawks, become the hawks should they even desire to survive the impending deadly interplay. For once they can be on the other side, magnificent and glorified.

Think we are cruel? The cruel are those who are weak! And the Weak haven’t taught us anything but being weak. There is no honor about them, disrespect being their only weapon. They blame their failures on the strong, attempting to pull us down. And you know what? Weakness is not even the reason they are weak, it’s merely an excuse whenever they once more failed to protect themselves. And any of their criticism is merely an intimation of strength. Whenever we fail, we rather fail with honor than to criticize or blame someone. And even if we fail, it doesn’t mean we give up. That is an attribute of only weak entities.

They are the cowards among us, the ones who are incapable of leading mankind to greater actions. They not only make us bleed but also make us look stupid. For that alone they should be struck like gongs, regularly. They don’t even deserve to breath the same air that we do. Have you considered us Banites are those who are harsh and seek to destroy? I rather say : We, the valliant, we never taste of death but once. And that is the day when we exterminate the faceless coward, the cruel weakling, and all those who will never be an asset to our future civilization. If we don’t, this epidemic will annihilate an even larger part of population...

[leviticus]

# entry 157

Whenever you become a Blackguard, you know you will be more at risk than anyone else. And once you arrive at commandership, your role becomes a responsibility to do more. Keep in mind to be ruthless not only to your enemies, but above all to yourself.

Forget past and old strategies. Strike out in new directions even if they involve risk. You may feel you suffer from a lack of comfort and security, but to your enemies it will be harder to predict what your next move might be. If they have seen you with one sword in a battle, show up with two in the next. Dismiss always-static lines of defense. Routine does not allow progress. Make things more fluid and mobile with your next call, and your enemies will find themselves plunging into the open jaws of disaster.

Of course there will be casualties, but victory stands on the back of sacrifice. Victory has no recipe nor a magical formula. In fact you should let go of all obvious fetishes -books, techniques, lectures about past battles-, and learn to become your own schemer, your own commander. For circumstances inexhaustibly change. Be strong and fear nothing but the Black Hand’s wrath, especially should you ever resign.

Learn, adapt, improvise, and notice how you will rise into higher realms of action. Your reputation might just rise faster than expected.

-- Galvanized by reports and synopses of Red Knight

[leviticus]

# entry 163

The faster water moves, the clearer it gets. A mountain river can be a model for an alternative way of thinking on the battlefield. Rules and laws are important, but it is up to any general, commander, officer and whatsoever, to make them sound. And sometimes rules need to be changed if one wishes to win a battle or war.

That said, you also need to be aware your opponent may think the same, learn from you, and adapt to the present. Never assume too much though what your enemy might be doing or thinking. It is important to -amidst the turmoil of events- not lose your presence of mind. That should always be of the highest order. And preferably the opposite should go for your adversaries.

Never act nor respond emotionally yourself. Fear for example, especially as motivation, is always good. It keeps you aware and makes you stronger, but you do not show this ever, most certainly not to your enemies. Rather make them fear you, and with the wrong mental attitude, more life may trickle out of their warriors through thought than through their gaping wounds. Let them and others lose their heads over this. Not you.

As for hate, hate any as you like. But above all, try and make them hate you. Hate can be a strong emotion, a source of power and fuel even if you know how to channel it. In such case, hate may even make you unstoppable. At the same time this type of hate should never apply to your opponents, for they otherwise might rate you, shake you and perhaps eventually break you. Instead, claim your prize in the name of The Black Lord for corrupting their souls, for bringing pain and cycles of self-destruction upon them all.

And finally love then. Affection, concern, lust and devotion are all easily transformed into weapons against your enemy; Through these, force them to make mistakes. It can never be hard for these are often the bedrock of their personalities, and the bigger their hearts, the more easy they are to stab without any armor protecting them whatsoever. It will be easy to make them feel miserable, unworthy and incompetent. This will not always make them less dangerous, just better to hit and perhaps better to manipulate.

Be all the hatred and all the rage you want and maybe need to be, but never give your enemy the satisfaction of seeing you at the bottom of a bottle...

[leviticus]

# entry 171

They accuse us that we, True Banites, are destructive, vicious, or simply evil without any further options.

But they forgot that from within the human heart, any human heart, often come evil plans, acts of immorality, and attempts to abuse... more than they are willing to admit. They are blind to the naked truth that these unguided missiles are what truly can plunge society into chaos, violating even Our own eternal justice.

We are willing to work with those who have the strength and the spine to bring true order in this nation. We... are many, we are stable, and we are powerful.

We can be the force in these lands that provides food on every table, or prepare you how to bear without. We can be the cure to many diseases and cancers, as long as you understand such cannot happen without causing a wound.

Obedience to Our lawful authority is the foundation to an empire where streets need no sidewalks, where discipline are the bridges between Our ambitions and Our achievements, and where the number of bricks in Our walls measure the steadfastness of Our home.

Several refer to those turning to that so called attempt 'Lord of Dawn'. We have news for them. Pretty armors do not make the warriors. After all, they never had their steel tested.

[leviticus]

# entry 178

Faith shines brighter in darkness. I rather walk alone in darkness, rather than to follow in someone’s shadow. Only during such solitary journey, I’d find clarity, purpose, and an unwavering resolve to forge my own destiny. My glow cannot be dimmed then, and my spirit would be free to soar untethered by the expectations of those around me. It would not be easy to navigate in the solitude of the Eternal Night, but at least my future would be shaped by my own courage and determination.

# entry 191

I wondered one time how Bane’s voice might sound. I imagined it low and rough, perhaps almost growling and filled with contempt. I pictured Him speaking slowly and with purpose, allowing every syllable to resonate and commanding attention. His speech would be infused with a sense of darkness and menace, His Word carrying weight and authority. His tone would strike fear into the hearts of our enemies.
Then... I realized this would be how a bard might mimick His voice, but without capturing the essence of His nature and entity. I do believe however when Bane would ever address us, He might just as well use the throat of a mortal. And even when he doesn’t, His silence speaks volumes…