Why We Fight
The Church of Fire is, as is well known, a religion of fellowship and love. The All-Father and Creator wish for nothing more than peace, harmony and life everlasting. It is likewise well known that we Flametouched work tirelessly to work their will, embodied in the office of the Fire Lord. Questions have of late been raised, and not entirely without foundation, why the Flametouched, as a peace-loving people, engage in the ritual combat of the Agni-Kai. To those well-versed in our sacred texts and traditions, these questions might seem ridiculous, but we would do well to remember that not all have heard the glorious word of our Fathers, and still more have heard it, but have yet to comprehend it. It is thus our religious and social duty to respond, in good faith and in detail, to these questions, which we are forced, by divine generosity of spirit, to assume were asked in good faith. So, without further ado or explanation, let us answer the question at hand.
There are, according to tradition and scripture, two reasons to conduct an Agni-Kai. The first and most holy is to settle disputes. The second, and far more common, is to demonstrate ones piety and devotion through ones proficiency in the arts of our Fathers. Let us begin with a more in-depth description of both of these circumstances.
The Agni-Kai as a means of settling disputes:
The Flametouched are a peaceful people, as we have said, but even among peaceful people there can be severe disagreements and disputes. The first instinct, for the Flametouched and all other reasonable peoples, is to look to their civic institutions for mediation. But civic institutions are human, and humans are of course limited. It is not always the case that humans can adequately render a fair and most importantly, correct, judgment. This naturally presents a problem for civic jurisprudence. Not so for deities.The All-Father is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, and often demonstrates his support and favor for the truthful and the just. It is here that the Agni-Kai enters the conversation. Before each bout, each claimant makes a sincere and lengthy prayer to the Fathers for their favor, and then they come together in a clash of holy fire. Whosoever emerges as the victor, must naturally have the favor of the All-Father and is thus concluded to have had the right of the matter. The Agni-Kai can, but need not be, to the death.
The Agni-Kai as a means of proving piety and devotion:
The element of the All-Father is fire, and indeed that elements permeate all aspects of life upon this earth. It is a holy thing, and while all living beings upon this earth may share in its warmth and splendor, only a select few have been blessed to touch its depths with their own hands. Only a select few have been blessed with the ability to shape it, and make new things through its use. For these few, it then naturally follows that honing these skills, perfecting them, constitutes a holy sacrament. To become proficient in the bending of the holy flame demonstrates the depth of one’s faith, and the strength of ones devotion to the spread and proliferation of the word of our Fathers. The sacred Agni-Kai, then, serves as a means for the devotees of our faith to show, both our Fathers and their peers, that they are strong in their abilities, and steadfast in their faith. These matches are most holy events, and serve as an inspiration to onlooking Flametouched to strengthen themselves, to dedicate themselves to the craft of the Flame. While outsiders may interpret these duels as violent in nature, it is not so. These rituals are the highest expression of devotion to peace and to love.
Why We Fight:The Art and Purpose of the Ancient and Noble Agni-Kai, Penned by the Committee of Public Relations of the Chapel of our Fathers of the Holy Sunflower in Fenixholm