Thursday, February 11, 2010

System Crash: Reformation

"The wounded soldier trudged on for miles. He senses that he is near his homeland. But he must be on his toes and not lower his defence. 6 months ago, the neighboring kingdom had unleashed hell upon them. He remembers that there wasn't a day when soldiers dint descend on their little village in the valley like vultures and left wake of death behind them. It was happening all over the country. His father, god bless his soul, died bravely fighting those invaders. The powers that be decided that we too fight back. The blacksmiths and forges went on for days and nights making armor and better weapons for us. The invaders also retaliated with equal ferocity. Towers and castles were built. Walls ran all around the kingdom in a vain effort to repel the attacks. However, those static defenses did not work too well as the invaders brought forth siege weapons.
The soldier looks up to the blue sky. A mute supplication went out from his lips to the Gods to protect him and his country. He had been into hell. Hundreds of infantry, cavalry, siege machines met near the plains to court death. The heavily wounded soldier and his company of pike-men had just laid waste to the enemy castle, and in all that he got severely wounded.
He trudged on, each step felt heavy. His blood and strength flowed out from his open wounds. His eyes brimmed with tears. He recollected the scores of fields and the villagers that toiled on them. Those hunting parties, berry collections, working on the mines as a collective effort for the community..... those recollections urged him on. He must go back and warn his townsfolk. The enemy is not dead. They are coming. He must hurry or he would not be able to save his family.
The soldier spies an old man with a cloak. Terror crept upon his heart. Is that the priest of the enemy? will he get brainwashed at the hands of the clergy? He steeled his heart, whatever may be the outcome he must carry out his task as a soldier of his country and kill this heinous creature. He has seen innocent folks getting brainwashed by them and betray their own. He put his hand on the sword hilt and his motion turned towards the priest. God had decided his fate. He must do it.
The priest turned, the soldier tensed; he has very little time to kill the priest before he gets brainwashed. As the priest turned fully, he recognized the Brother from the monastery. The soldier knelt before the Brother and thanked God for the safe deliverance. Brother spoke: "My Child, fear not. I understand your fear. Look around you." The soldier looked around, scores of archers, infantry, cavalry rose up from the foliage. He trembled, his prayers have been answered. The Monk spoke softly, " Rest now, and Heal." Saying thus, he raised his staff and chanted mantras and prayers. The soldier felt at peace as his wounds disappeared and his body healed.
Rest was easy. The advancing enemy was crushed and decimated.

I leaned back after finishing the game of Age of Empires. I wondered, why aren't there monks like that in real life that heals everyone just by waving his staff around. Had there been such people, the number of sick and dying would have dwindled to null.