Lt. JG Zhanyt Lafizatar - The Second Duty

[Koihime Nakamura]

((Counselor’s Office, Deck 6 -- USS Veritas))

Lafizatar: My view is pretty normal for the tradition I have, I imagine, but like all faiths, there are multiple traditions. And it is true that our tradition reflects the Diserk value of self-reliance, of making our own way in the world, but it's largely that I'm alone in my faith here. Normally, if I was on a world with a community, we do it in communion with others. Just because you are self-reliant does not mean you can do it alone - you are to help others, not be a burden on them.

Navarro: Yet, there is still the matter of your loss of temper.

Lafizatar: True. ::Zhanyt sat back down, wryly:: I'm prone to diversions.

Navarro: Why not tell me exactly what happened that caused it?

Lafizatar: Well.. it was the sheer lack of caring by the priestess for her siblings.

In the Night Sky faith, and in fact, most of the so-called Five Great Faiths of Mathen, which comprised 68.5 of all Mathenites, did not see the relationships between the clergy and their followers the same as many humanoid religions did. It was an interesting diversion that gave comparative xenotheologists something to look at, and Zhanyt actually spent some time reading that too.

Of course...

Navarro: Why does that disturb you?

Lafizatar: Beyond merely just my faith, I have taken training, and shadowed chaplains who's entire job was to see to the spiritual and mental health of their shipmates. I was all but ordained.. and seeing someone violate their duty in that way just... ::Even now, her ears started twitching violently.:: Well, I could not condone someone ignoring their duty to their siblings. That is your second duty, as sacred as your first.

Navarro: Response

Lafizatar: Your first? It is to always live up to the tents of your faith; to exemplify what you ask your others to do, and in the words of the Blessed Daughter to remember that you have spiritual and a measure of temporal power, and to use it wisely.

It was an axiom now - but that was said when the faith was a theocratic feudal monarchy, with the Archprophtess the ruler of the realms. With a rising awareness of the ordained abusing their power to gather power and riches, she deliberately created the tradition of local councils that would grow into the eventual Federal Republics of South Rheghenda.

Navarro: Response

Lafizatar: Well, I don't think I'm particularly suited to be an ordained priestess. For one, it is generally advised we do not perform combat duties, and for another, I keep to myself.

Navarro: Response

TAG TBC

Lt. JG Zhanyt Lafizatar

Science Officer

USS Veritas

C239112CA0