User:Aehren

A while back I was quite active in the 40K Lexicanum, but these days it seems to have enough users (and the first signs of over-kill are plain to see). Anyway I always liked the Warhammer fantasy fluff better (probably has something to do with the fact that the humans are NOT completely insane, the Elves are NOT arrogant to the point of stupidity, and that the Dwarfs DO exist). Well the fantasy lex seemed more or less abandoned, and now and again I do have a bit of spare time. So what the heck... someone has to clean up this mess.

I intend to reform this wiki from top to bottom. I have noticed in several places that a direct literal translation from German to English has occurred. In most cases this is fine but here and there this creates problems which will have to be corrected.

Wisdom of the ages

• There is only one rule and law you must truly follow: Don't get caught.

• A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords at dawn.

• By way of deception, thou shalt do war.

• Great empires are not maintained by timidity. - Tacitus

• There is no knowledge that is not power. - Mortal Kombat

• Knowledge is power, Guard it well. - motto of the Blood Ravens

• Knowledge is only the first step on the path of power.

• We're drowning in information and starving for knowledge. - Rutherford D. ROGERS, American librarian, Yale University

• (Believers) are civil, educated and ignorant. They're not mad. They're trained to believe, not to know. Belief can be manipulated. Only knowledge is (truly) dangerous. - Scytale from Dune Messiah written by Frank Herbert. This quote was a bit "tempered" by myself, the changed parts are in brackets "( )".

• I asked: "What is the most important virtue a samurai may possess?" The first to answer was the Crab. "Strength! For a weak man is not a man at all." Many in the room quietly nodded, but the Lion was next. "Courage, for even if a man is strong, should he be a coward, his strength will serve nothing but his flight." Many more nodded at the wisdom of the Lion but when the Unicorn spoke up, there was naught but silence. "Resourcefulness, I think. Strength and courage are good and well, but if a man cannot think, he cannot make use of any of his virtues." And then suddenly, a quiet voice spoke from the crowd. I almost did not hear it as it softly said: "Loyalty." All turned to see the Scorpion standing in the corner, picking from the fresh sashimi on the table. "For is a man is not loyal, all his virtues serve your enemy." - extracted from the Way of the Scorpion from the Legends of the Five Rings

• A general does not need knowledge of tactics, strategy, movement or any other military matter. He only needs the perception to recognize men who do have such knowledge, the intelligence to put them in positions of authority and the willpower to let them do what they do best and not hinder their efforts with his own desire for glory. - extracted from the the Way of the Scorpion. - Please notice that such a general needs the loyalty of these men, and that absolute loyalty is all too often an illusion. "Does not need" does not mean that he can't have these skills; in fact I personally think that he should have a certain degree of knowledge about warfare so that he can control his followers or he will be deceived.

• May you live in interesting times. - It seems to be a Chinese curse. The reasoning is the following: quiet times are the best, as everything is peaceful and safe. Interesting times are dangerous, stressful, full of conflict, and destruction. Still I would like to live in interesting times because truth be told these are also times of change and tremendous progress (technological, political, but also social, etc). As I grow older and wiser (?) I may change my mind.

If you like to read about High Fantasy: valiant knights, political intrigues, cunning warlords, and tales about loyalty and betrayal I can only strongly advise you to read the Song of Ice and Fire series.

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Storm of Swords
• A Feast for Crows