The Way of the Watcher in the Mists
Contents
The Way of the Watcher in the Mists
”Watcher sees you, traveler.”
The Way
The Way of the Watcher in the Mists, frequently shortened to The Way, is an enigmatic religious organization that worships The Watcher in the Mists. With a founding as old and as shady as the Mists themselves the Walkers of The Way tread many paths. With The Way accepting all weary travelers through the Mists their temples have garnered the titles of thieves' dens or "wretched hives of scum and villainy" but any who would listen would know that The Watcher is always watching, waiting in the Mists to guide those late souls to their rightful afterlife, their own True End. Many adventures have joined The Way after realizing that they are a part of a much larger story, destined to walk a more important path. Too important as to let something as inconvenient as death stop their predetermined footfalls. Many find The Way after searching for answers as to why they of all people were spat back forth from the swirling Mists of Amtgard to rise and fight again and again. The tenets of The Way tell of these immortals and their stories as the living parables of the gods so that when there is a minor hiccup, such as a hero falling in a battle when they are destined to win the war, it is the duty of The Watcher to right such things and to set the hero back on their fated path. Put crudely by one of the Walkers, one Vorric Yahrn, "If all of Amtgard is a stage and all the heroes merely players, then The Watcher is a stage director constantly having to feed the stars their lines from the wings."
Tenets of The Way
The holy book of The Way is a book of parables with no expressed laws. As such, there are core guiding tenets that are given via spoken word when an initiate takes their first steps on their path. They are as follows:
- 1. All Walk Their Own Path
- The very core belief of The Way of the Watcher is that all who travel are on their own sacred journey as a living, breathing parable. Though you may walk beside a fellow and your paths may linger close by for a time it is the sole duty of the individual to tread their own destiny. There are times where those you hold dear may even cross your path and block your way but it is responsibility to continue on your journey in search of your True End.
- 2. Give Aid to Those Travelers in Need
- This is the first demand made of us by The Watcher. Those who choose to walk The Way must understand that they may be sent weary travelers who require aid or sent to those in desperate need. This demand to help all those who travel the Mists has led to The Way sometime being held with ill repute as they are seen to harbor those of less scrupulous employment but, this aid is offered to all indiscriminately. Some have made this tenet into their primary focus by creating roadside establishments that offer room and board to all in need with no questions asked. It is also within this tenet that if the needy cannot afford the help offered then the only payment needed is their story and for it to be recorded in The Watcher's Tome which leads into the third tenet.
- 3. Know Their Stories and Share the Wisdom
- To reiterate and become a bit cyclical if the weary traveler has no goods to trade then all that those who walk The Way will ask for is a story that the traveler would share. Many who walk The Way however will ask any and all for their stories trying to grow their Tome as large as possible before reaching the next temple or shrine to The Watcher. It is then the duty of The Way to record and distribute these stories so that all may read and learn form those that walk their own paths.
Stories for the Watcher
In accordance with the 3rd tenet we have created a form that travelers far and wide may use to give their stories. If you have a story you would like to share you can do so here.
Walkers of The Way
- Contact Ralph for more information.
