Conducts of Virtue

From the Quartos Toranis with comments from Ortheus.

Valor

Those who follow Toran shall show determination in facing great danger and show the strength to do what is right by the Hand of Virtue.

This is a primary conduct for a Toranite. But standing before overwhelming odds is not the only kind of valor. Sometimes, it is to do what is right. Sometimes, it is to stand for something in the face of ridicule. And sometimes, it is even to withdraw when a battle is lost but the war can still be won. Valor can be joyous, and it can be painful. But it should be for need, never for appearance or pride. Following the course of what is right, will never cause shame.
Of all the conducts, it is both the first and the most difficult to follow.

Empathy

Those who follow the Great Leader must try to see the world through the eyes of those they help.

Empathy is perhaps the most important conduct. Those who can help should always try to do so. However, understand the situation. Understand the person. Every person is unique in the eyes of the Great Leader and every life has been lived differently. What is right for you may not be right for another. If you wish to help, ask what you can do, do not assume to barge in and start doing. This conduct ties closely to the fourth conduct, humility.

Conviction

Hold firm in your belief in the Conducts of Toran.

Some mistake this conduct as faith. Faith is obvious. Faith is ingrained. But faith can also be very quiet, a soft voice at night, a whisper. What is required for those who would stand fast and bring the heart of our Great Leader to the world is the ability to say, "And this I believe!"Those who see us with the truth of our god as comfortable and strong on us as our own skin cannot help but ask, "Who is it you follow?"

Conviction is born of trial. Conviction isn't given or memorized. It is learned like letters and numbers, one lesson at a time. Fear is natural, but as with valor, you know when Toran has set you on the right path. You know, in your head and in your heart, what is the right thing to do. You know! And that is conviction.

Humility

The Great Leader never overestimated his importance in life. Do not see yourself as above anyone.

While empathy brings understanding, conviction and valor can bring pride. And pride can bring ego, and ego can bring intolerance and a sense of importance. It was this lesson the justicars brought so tragically to life, and it is why the conducts have always been balanced.

For valor there is restraint, for conviction there is humility, for honorable combat there is sacrifice. Remember who grants you strength, the ability to heal, and protect. Remember that while he is a god, he was a man. A man who did not stand on a pedestal. A man who did not take for granted others and who did not use his strength to put others under his heel but rather assisted and protected. Every day, walk in his humble steps.

Sacrifice

Be ready to give of yourself in time, in labor, and if Toran wills it, in life's blood.

There are so many ways one can sacrifice. You could give away money or possessions. For many of you, that's not a problem. You could lend assistance, a strong back, a gentle touch, a caring ear. This too is easy as well as important. You could use the example of Clarissa here, and spend a year or more aiding others in need day to day. You could stand fast in front of an enemy threatening one weaker than yourself, and die to give them the time to flee.

Remember that sacrifice is both small and large. The parents whose stomachs growl so their children will not cry with hunger. The mother who shivers so her baby can sleep warmly.The Prunillan who works day and night to create a seed that will grow under this cold gray light. You are not alone when you open your heart and hands.

Honorable Combat

A Toranite does not strike from behind.

Honorable combat, when it comes, begins with valor and ends with restraint. Combat is something we do, and most of us do it well. Our enemies use our honor against us. They will strike from behind, they will use ruses, and they will sneak upon an unarmed man and disembowel him without a thought.Do not debase yourself. This means against the noblest and the foulest of your opponents. This means even against those who despise all that Toran stands for. We are men and women, not gods, and who and what we believe in is often a product of our parents and our communities. As such, we must practice empathy and apply it to honorable combat; no matter how much you might want to drive your sword through the body of your unarmed, beaten opponent, you offer surrender first. The only exception to the rule of surrender is fiends from the Pits. No mercy is to be shown them. Ever.

Restraint

There can be no valor and no honorable combat without control.

Restraint. It is a powerful word, with powerful meanings. But to restrain one's self is many things. It is to resist the temptation to charge after a fleeing enemy if it is not necessary.

It is to moderate one's words in the throes of anger. To allow someone to refuse aid even if you know they need it, because it is their right to do so. Restraint is another word for control, and a Toranite must be in control of him or her self.

Restraint is the last of the conducts because it is the result of all of them. Every conduct teaches when it is appropriate to act and when to hold back; each teaches restraint.