Ambition
The Path of Ambition
Though many Citizens associate the Virtue of Ambition with an eye on a Senator’s seat or even the Imperial Throne, this Path embraces many subtler expressions also. The artisan who aspires to create something never before seen; the merchant who strives to be wealthier than any other; the youth who aspires to forbidden love – all may be guided by Ambition to turn their dreams to reality. There are as many Ambitions as there are citizens who can dream of them, though not all possess the strength of purpose, character and will to pursue the Path of Ambition to its fullest, for the cost of doing so is often high.
Guidance on the Path
Through study of the Paragons and Exemplars, the priests of The Way have gleaned insight into the heart of the Virtue and how best to pursue it. There are collections of parables, tales, sayings and teachings that distill this for Imperial Citizens to learn from. The following are a handful of teachings and sayings deemed to be essential to understanding the Path:
- Aim high; pursue your dreams; nothing is beyond your grasp.
- Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time.
- Consequences are the price of Ambition; no price is too high to realise your dreams.
- It is better, by far, to try and fail, than fail to try.
- Despise the weakness that comes from pettiness and lack of vision.
Paragons and Exemplars
There have been several Paragons and Exemplars of Ambition across the Empire’s history. These include:
- Tian. Tian is the oldest recorded Paragon of Ambition who, so legend has it, overcame many challenges and foes to ascend the highest mountain in all creation to steal fire from the sun and bring it to her people – and all humankind. The act of carrying fire caused her hands to be forever burned, but her ambition ensured that her people never went cold again.
- Atuman of the Highborn. Atuman and Atun are the visionary pair who led the Highborn away from their doomed homeland and across unknown waters, to save their people and build a new Nation. Atuman was once considered a Paragon of Ambition, but this status has been revised to Exemplar.
- Aldones di Sarvos, an orphan who rose to become merchant prince of Sarvos in the years before the formation of the Empire. Aldones revealed himself to be Atuman reborn – denying claims of Atuman attaining Paragonhood. Like Atuman he helped to create of a nation when he laid the foundations for the League. Aldones has since been declared a Paragon of Ambition.
Symbols, icons and trappings
The Path of Ambition has many symbols and icons across the Empire, but one of the most common and prevalent is Flame. This is not only symbolic of Tian’s quest to steal the fire of the sun, but fire possesses many of the qualities of purest ambition. It is ever hungry and never satisfied, for the moment it is satisfied, it dies. Some Pilgrims of Ambition even go as far as to burn a brand on their arm or hand in recognition of the price Tian paid or as a reminder of how dangerous Ambition can be.