The Heartwood Grove's Complete Ranger's Handbook - Musings on Balance
Musings of the Balance
It is no secret that the system works, the forests thrive and the animals are healthy and well populated. Though, the "civilized" world draws back in horror from it, they fear it in-fact. They see it as a world of chaos, endless competition, and where every living creature lives in fear for its life. This is not the case at all; those who live in this "world" would defend themselves to the death rather then be separated from it. Take the deer, some would claim the deer and the wolf are enemies... but I can assure you they are not. The wolf does not massacre every deer it comes across, it only takes what it needs. A content and full wolf will pass by a herd of deer who will happily go on grazing. That is the basis from one of the laws, it is not chaos... it is in-fact a law of peace keeping.
It is when one thinks that they are exempt from these laws that the problems start. They create a civilization that flaunts the law at every turn. This is where some might disagree with me that civilization can work in the balance. But in the form as we see it now? I can attest that there are those who live with the balance and do not flaunt it. So is it civilization that is against the laws of the balance or is it the "people" themselves?
At One With the Balance
The Balance represents the important sides of all things natural. It represents the importance in preserving the wilds as well as the tame. The importance of the forests, the deserts, the farms and the gardens. The importance in fertility and even infertility. The importance of destroying any and all undead and aberrations. The importance in keeping a close watch on those not native to our world, in case they seek to push their alien agendas on our lands, peoples and creatures. The importance of the sanctity of our natural life spans; people, animals, creatures and all. The importance in not altering or destroying the soul of any being. The importance in magic and it's proper use. The importance in the wolf eating the deer, the deer eating the grass and the grass taking the nutrients from the ground after the wolf dies, decays and is recycled into the earth itself. All this and more is the Balance and it is of utmost importance that we all do our part in protecting it by preserving and defending it.
On Balance - A Broader View
The first and most important task in this essay is not a simple one: To clearly define the concept of "The Balance". Now, as the observant reader will notice, the concept is "The Balance", not simply "Balance", which implies that only certain, pre-determined variables are included in the concept. This then, means that we are looking at something specific, not "Balance" in a broad term that can include anything someone wish to see in relation to something else. Specifically, "The Balance" as understood here, refers to the optimal state of "Nature", in which the land is utilized and preserved in a manner that sustain the world as a whole. It does not refer to "Balance" in ethic and morals, and do not propose neutrality in all matters as some falsely believe. The next question then, would of course be "What is Nature"?
"Nature" would here need to be understood in the broadest meaning of the term. "Nature" is not simply trees, water, birds and bushes, it is also mountains, cities, Elves, Men, Dwarves, Gnomes and so forth. "Nature" in this regard, is the sum of everything that is native to Faerun, with certain exceptions that will be mentioned later. The much used division between "Nature" and "Civilization" is inherently false, for the following reasons: It is the natural instinct of most humanoids to band together and build communities in order to survive and improve their lives. As such communities evolve beyond a pack of roaming humanoids into stable settlements (as is a natural and logical path for most humanoids to pursue) they become "civilizations". Does this mean that they cease to be a part of "Nature"?
Of course not. They still depend on the land for the resources they need to survive and thrive, and are as affected by their surroundings as their surroundings are affected by them. They are a part of "Nature" still. This distinction originates both from the "Civilizations" themselves, who sometimes wish to believe that they have evolved into something that exists independently of the world around them, and from those who advocate "Nature" as something pure and unchanging in which everyone are, or should be, wild animals with contempt for anyone who develop and use tools. They are both, as you can see, very narrow interpretations that can be demolished by taking a broader view.
-Written by Gwen Estelwen. Compiled for publishing by Orion Stormwood