The journey’s beginning

Across the span of history and culture, the warrior’s spiritual journey has been documented and dissected in various forms. The teachings of Miyamoto Musashi’s Five Rings, The Bushido Code, and the ethos of Chivalry – the medieval knightly system underscored with religious, moral, and social codes, all illuminate this path. Even in Tibetan Buddhism, the term ‘Spiritual Warrior’ is used for those fighting the ubiquitous enemy – self-ignorance, the primary root of suffering.

Fantasy literature also taps into this concept, as seen in the art of Kanly from Frank Herbert’s Dune and the honor system of the Klingons from Star Trek – an imaginative twist based on Bushido.

Solitary Enlightenment

In essence, “The Way” is a solitary spiritual journey every warrior embarks upon. Even though their paths may cross with fellow travelers, each warrior’s journey remains unique, defined by their individual battles and enlightenment.

There is an array of beliefs that guide a warrior. Some view themselves as guardians defending against evil forces, while others draw strength from the metals that craft their weapons. Many adhere to a kind of spiritual eclectic, picking elements from different ideologies that resonate with them. Others subscribe to the philosophy of balance, the interplay of Yin-Yang, wherein maintaining equilibrium is the ultimate goal.

 

 

 

Virtues and Sins

A warrior’s path is entangled with virtues and sins, which lay the foundational aspects of major and minor religions. The Seven Virtues include Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Justice, Prudence, and Temperance, while the Nine Sins consist of Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, and Lust.

The warrior’s actions and decisions, often steeped in sin and virtue, reveal their intrinsic spirituality. It’s a peculiar balance, showing that even these killing machines have a mechanism for restraint, for mercy. They understand the inherent risks of their role, aware that their lives may end in any battle. This duality gives rise to alternative paths within the warrior’s spiritual journey.

The lonely hero

One such path is where a warrior’s belief system prompts them to fight for a cause, not for personal gain, but because it’s morally right. Such warriors, often referred to as ‘Lonely Heroes’, are the architects of their destiny. They seek no more than food and shelter as rewards for their deeds, fearing that more would compromise their moral code.

The warrior bard

On another path, some warriors, tired of the endless battles, lay down their weapons to seek peace. They find solace in taverns, picking up an instrument, and sharing their tales and experiences in song. They sing the songs of the old warriors learned during campaigns – a chronicle of their lives as warriors. These individuals are known as ‘Warrior Bards’.

Warriors of destruction

On the other end of the spectrum are warriors who revel in their skill of killing. They wander the land seeking opportunities to use their lethal skills, yearning for a righteous justification for their actions. Their pleasure derives from the act of killing rather than the cause behind it.

Traversing the crossroads

The spiritual journey of a warrior is a complex dance of choices that often pivot between two primal elements – life and death. A warrior’s path is not simply carved by the choice of their weapon, but by the deeper choice of which cause they serve and which sacrifices they are willing to make.

Path of Death

The first primary path is that of warriors who choose death. These are typically individuals who perceive life through a lens of harsh realism. They believe that their existence is temporary, and life is a currency to be spent in the pursuit of a cause or as a means to earn their keep.

These warriors often engage in battles for a cause they strongly believe in or fight as mercenaries for pay. Their viewpoint is not necessarily a morbid fascination with death, but rather a detachment from the fleeting pleasures of life. The world to them is an arena, and they are gladiators, forever ready to face their end in combat.

However, warriors treading this path may at times surprise themselves and those around them by choosing life. They might find themselves sparing an adversary or stepping away from a battle. These instances might be rare but are a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in the path of a spiritual warrior.

Path of Life

The second primary path is that of warriors who choose life. They fight, but only when necessary, and only to protect innocence or self. Life is sacred to them, and they believe that taking one must only be a last resort. These are warriors who appreciate the simple pleasures of life – the warmth of a hearth, the sweetness of fresh fruits, the harmony of a well-tuned lyre.

Yet, in an ironic twist, there may be instances where these warriors are compelled to choose death. This may occur when the preservation of life as they know it is threatened, or the lives of those they swore to protect are in danger. In such cases, they might be forced to wield their swords, not to protect, but to kill, embodying the complex duality of their existence.

The dualistic dance

Every spiritual warrior, regardless of their chosen path, harbors these two potentialities within them – the life-giver and the death-bringer. Their journey is an ongoing tug-of-war between these two aspects, continually shaping and reshaping their spiritual path. They are embodiments of an eternal paradox – warriors who must kill, yet are deeply aware of the sanctity of life.

GM Tips

The spiritual warrior’s path in your campaign is a dance between two primal truths: memento vivere (remember to live) and memento mori (remember you will die). These dual philosophies can guide character development, shape narrative themes, and provide players with moments of profound introspection.

Setting the Tone: Introduce these philosophies as core tenets of the warrior’s ethos, perhaps taught by ancient guilds, nomadic sages, or remnants of the First Ones’ wisdom. Let them serve as guiding lights for the party’s choices.

Personal Journeys: Encourage players to adopt either memento vivere or memento mori as their character’s mantra, allowing these beliefs to inform their actions, decisions, and growth.

 

Creating Choices That Embody Life and Death

 

The journey of a spiritual warrior is defined by pivotal decisions that echo the balance between life and death.

Life’s Path: Memento Vivere

Present scenarios that challenge players to honor life’s sanctity. Examples include sparing an enemy, protecting a village from destruction, or fostering peace between warring factions.

Warriors guided by memento vivere value the simple pleasures of existence, finding strength in the act of preservation and creation. Design encounters where players must weigh the cost of battle against the potential for life’s beauty to endure.

 

Death’s Path: Memento Mori

Challenge players to accept the inevitability of death as a means of fulfilling a greater purpose. Warriors following memento mori may sacrifice themselves for a cause, execute an enemy for justice, or embrace combat as their ultimate truth.

Craft moments where players must confront their mortality, such as defending a sacred site at great personal risk or dueling an unyielding foe to save others. Let these decisions explore the honor and inevitability of death.

 

Integrating Virtues and Sins into Gameplay

 

The spiritual warrior’s path is deeply entwined with moral and ethical dilemmas that test the player’s alignment with memento vivere or memento mori.

Virtue Challenges: Design encounters that test virtues like Fortitude, Prudence, or Charity. For instance, sparing an enemy (Faith) or mediating a conflict (Justice) can align with memento vivere.

Sinful Temptations: Present scenarios where sins such as Wrath or Greed tempt players to stray from their ideals. Yielding to anger might align with memento mori in its darkest sense, while resisting it might affirm the value of life.

 

Archetypes of the Spiritual Warrior

 

Use archetypes to inspire characters or NPCs, each embodying a different aspect of the spiritual warrior’s dual path.

The Lonely Hero: A warrior who fights selflessly, guided by memento vivere, seeking no reward but the preservation of life and honor.

The Warrior Bard: A retired warrior who honors both paths, sharing tales of battle and sacrifice to remind others of life’s fragility and its triumphs.

The Warrior of Destruction: A cautionary figure consumed by their devotion to memento mori, reveling in death to the point of losing their humanity.

 

These archetypes can serve as allies, mentors, or antagonists, reflecting the duality of the warrior’s journey.

 

Symbolic Encounters and Trials

 

Design encounters that embody the paradox of life and death, forcing players to confront their beliefs.

The Test of Life: A scenario where players must prioritize saving lives, even at great risk. For instance, rescuing innocents during a collapsing siege while resisting the temptation to retaliate against attackers.

Success reinforces memento vivere, showing the strength in valuing life above all.

The Test of Death: A trial where players must embrace memento mori to protect what they hold dear, such as facing an overwhelmingly powerful foe or sacrificing resources to destroy an ancient evil.

Success highlights the nobility of accepting mortality as part of the greater good.

 

Tying the Journey to Ertha’s Lore

 

Ground the spiritual warrior’s journey in the fabric of Ertha’s history and culture.

Philosophical Teachings: Introduce guilds, nomadic tribes, or ancient texts that teach the balance of memento vivere and memento mori. These philosophies could be remnants of the First Ones’ wisdom or tied to the teachings of key figures from the First Age.

Cultural Rites: Incorporate rituals or traditions reflecting this duality, such as meditative practices before battle or songs of remembrance after a victory.

 

Encouraging Player Agency and Reflection

 

Allow players to shape their journey by grappling with the duality of life and death.

Defining Beliefs: Encourage characters to declare whether they are guided by memento vivere, memento mori, or a blend of both. Let these beliefs evolve based on their actions and experiences.

Consequences of Choices: Ensure that each decision carries weight, influencing the world and how NPCs perceive the party. Let moments of mercy or destruction ripple through the narrative.

 

By weaving memento vivere and memento mori into your campaign, you invite players to explore the profound dualities of existence, creating a narrative rich with moral complexity and emotional depth. The spiritual warrior’s journey is not just a tale of combat but a dance of choices that resonate far beyond the battlefield, echoing in the hearts of those who dare to walk the path.