“For it is by our hands, by our labor, and by our vigilance that we may continue Seeking. By the sweat of our brow we skate the light fantastic until the Promised Day arrives.”
Seekers of the Silver Wing
The Path of Light
Choosing the Path
In the Third Holy Fervor, the Divine Navigators looked upon their six holy ships and saw that each one carried within it three Paths: the Path of Navigation, the Path of Discovery, and the Path of Light. To each Path aboard, the Navigators appointed individuals to lead and shepherd those who walked their Path, just as the Divine Navigators lead and shepherd the congregant crews of the Seekers.
It came to pass that more purposeless wanderers were drawn to the Seekers and a need arose for a way to ascertain the proper Path for those new members of the congregant crews. And so did Navigator Argent stand before her sacred siblings and say:
“My sacred siblings, our congregant crews have grown and overgrown and many walk an incorrect Path or walk no Path at all. As it is our noble task to lead and shepherd our congregant crews, it falls to us to guide our Seeker’s feet to the Path most suited to their talents and inclinations. Speak truly, my sacred siblings. How shall we guide our Seekers to their proper Path?”
Navigator Violet then rose and spoke thus:
“My fellow divine Navigators, my sacred siblings all. We must set before our congregant crews a test of aptitude, skill, and purpose. We must draw out from them their hidden strengths and qualities. Only then may we be best prepared to guide our congregant crews onto their ideal Path.”
Thus it was decided and the Divine Navigators did seek out the council of their Way-seekers, Cartographers, and Lantern-bearers. Bearing the wisdom of their council, the Navigators did compose the Winding Path to Purpose and in the fullness of time they set it before their congregant crew.
Navigator Cobalt stood before the assembled congregant crew and held up the Winding Path to Purpose. He spoke unto them all:
“Our sacred congregant crew, behold the Winding Path to Purpose. This shall test your aptitude and aid in ensuring that each and every one of us is on the Path best suited for us all, and thus hasten the Promised Day.
“Fear not, oh my fellow faithful Seekers. Your desires shall be weighed along with your abilities and skills. We desire not to force anyone into a Path that they do not wish to walk. To be a Seeker is a voluntary commitment and one we will not suffer to become indenturement.
“Hear me well, oh congregant crews, for today we will ask each of us to complete the Winding Path to Purpose, and should you find that your Purpose fails to match up with the role you desire, we ask you to speak with whomever oversees the resulting Path on your personal purpose.
“It is one of our sacred duties to ensure that each of you is walking the Path to which you are most suited.”
Thus was the Winding Path to Purpose set forth and enshrined as the first task for any who would rise from the ranks of the purposeless wanderers and become a Seeker of the Great Discovery-to-come. Those newly inducted are guided to the Path they are meant to walk and further, they are placed aboard a ship of the Fleet Sacred for no less than their first year of commitment.
Walking the Path of Light
For those aspirants who demonstrate an aptitude for the inner workings of ships and their systems, the Path of Light is set before them. These noble Seekers spend the sweat of their brow to ensure that the ships of the Fleet Sacred may continue on their blessed task of searching the stars for the promised world seen in the First Holy Fervor. By the labor of their hands do the Seeking ships skate the light fantastic, each voyage bringing us all closer to the Great Discovery-to-come.
The Path of Light has many times been derided, most incorrectly, as the least of the Paths. Yes, our glorious journey is led by those who walk the Path of Navigation, and the many worlds discovered are searched and examined by those who walk the Path of Discovery, yet how would the Navigators be able to guide our Fleet Sacred across the void without the mighty engines maintained by those on the Path of Light? Without the upkeep and attention brought to bear by Lantern-bearers and their acolytes, how would the Path of Discovery be able to survey new worlds?
The Path of Light is not a glamorous Path, nor one likely to garner praise for those Faithful who walk upon it. Yet it remains as the sturdy backbone of the Seekers, the mighty foundation of the congregant crew, and the very arms that lift the Divine Navigators so they may see.
Fear not, you who walk in the glow of the Lantern-bearers. While praise and honor may allude you in the moments of triumph for the other Path’s, your glory is in every journey across the light fantastic, in every breath of purifying air, and in every sip of nourishing water. Know you now that without your hand, nothing achieved by the Seekers would have ever come to pass and the Blessed Day of the Great Discovery-to-come would never come at all.
We name your Path “Light” and your leaders “Lantern-bearers” for without you, we would all be lost in the darkness between the stars. So now, wipe the sweat from your brow. Lay your skillful hands on our great engines. Feel them hum as we skate the light fantastic and know that this miracle is made possible by you. We are Seekers, one and all, and on the Blessed Day, you will stand in glory with us before the Tree.
When the Third Holy Fervor was concluded, the first six Lantern-bearers did gather together and lay forth the roles that those who would walk the Path of LIght would fulfill, and they named them thus:
First they named the Drive-tenders, those who keep and maintain the mighty engines that fling the ships between stars. They named next the System-keepers and entrusted them with the consoles and datalines, the very mind of the ships. Third they named the Spark-chasers and to them they tasked the power plants and cables, the nervous system of the ships. Finally, they named the Life-makers and to them was entrusted the water and air, for without these the ships would be little more than mausoleums drifting through the void.
So named, those Seekers who walk the Path of Light took their first steps into the mysteries that will propel us all to the promised world. Hold your lanterns high, you who labor for us all, and know that when we reach Blessed Day it was done through your great efforts.
Teaching the Path