Chapter III: Three Honest Men
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“It is said that there are two kinds of men within the Honest Friends: the builders — farmers, bankers, and workers of the fandom — and the protectors — the Brony Guard forces, and the others who seek to defend the Collective from harm. This makes the Honest Friends one of the more varied branches of the Brony community, as it contains a much wider range of skills than other followers. Consequently, they are the most well-rounded, and the most likely to share tasks with the other Friends. The fandom’s finances are maintained by the both the Generous and Honest, food production is tasked by both the Laughing and Honest, and defense is handled by both the Loyal Friends and the Honest (though the Loyal forces are more attuned to offensive fighting than the Honest). They are the backbone of the Collective, the steady foundation on which all other things are built, and oftentimes those who do not fit within other Brony groups will find their place under the tutelage of the most Honest Friend…”
— “Six Friends: The Structure and Society of the Brony Collective”, by Trending Tome
* * * * * *
“Are you Coin Counter?”
Startled, Coin looked over in the direction of the voice. The speaker was a short man, dark-skinned, dark-haired, and clothed in orange robes and a yellow hood. Around his neck was a golden clasp in the shape of an apple, the symbol of the Honest Friend whom both he and Coin served. On the man’s chest, though, was a symbol Coin didn’t recognise: a golden eye, open and staring out. The messenger smiled, and looked down at Coin eagerly.
“Er, yes. Yes, I am,” Counter replied. He had only just arrived in the Honest Wing of the Citadel, after nearly getting utterly lost. He rubbed his tired eyes quickly and then stood up, giving an awkward bow to the man. The messenger smiled and returned it in kind.
“Forgive me for assuming, but I take it that isn’t your birth name?” the man said, his voice sympathetic.
Coin felt himself turning red. “No, I — ah, I made it up.” Counter had heard that it was common for new converts to take Brony names, and truthfully he had never enjoyed his original one. It seemed foolish to him now, with people asking about it.
The man must have seen how embarrassed he was, because he gave a reassuring smile and said, “Don’t worry, it’s a fine name. People around here will be happy that you didn’t take something with the word ‘apple’ in it — it’s getting hard to keep track of them all. My name is Rolf, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Rolf,” he repeated. “This isn’t like what you’re used to in the Authority, where everyone’s a sir or a lord or something. Well, some of them are, but not me. Honestly though,” he said while giving Coin another look over, “I had expected you to be a bit more grandiose with a new name. Trusted Sword, or Oakheart or something. You earned it, considering the service you did the Collective in Reddit. I understand that you were the one who wrapped up that investigation?”
“No. Well, yes, I mean,” Coin stammered. “There was a whole team behind it, Book and Es did a lot of the investigative work as well, and Greenheart was the one who copied the reports for the Authority. If anything they deserve—”
“To come and be congratulated by the Wardens rather than you?” Rolf interrupted. “They’ve been give their commendations and promotions as well, Coin, so don’t worry. But you led the investigation, collected most of the evidence, and presented it to the Lord Moderator over there. Don’t sell yourself short! You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t deserve it. You might be new to the Brony Collective, but that doesn’t mean you’re not important here as well.”
“I… if you say so,” Coin said. “I’m sorry I seem so anxious, but it’s strange being here so soon. I only joined the Brony Collective a few months ago, and now I’m supposed to be talking with the Wardens of Friendship. It’s just… surreal.” Since he had first taken a step into the Citadel, he had been feeling more and more like the Wardens had made some kind of mistake, a thought that hadn’t been helped as he saw the increasing vastness of the palace's interior.
Rolf laughed. “You’re doing fine, really. Walk with me, we’ll get you prepared to meet the Wardens.”
Coin followed behind him, the two of them walking from the bench he was sitting on to the main hallway of the Honest Wing. The room was bustling with people, shouting, singing, pushing carts of food and arguing with one another.
The walls were hung with great murals; one was a map of the Known Internet, while another was a painting done of a green orchard teeming with apples and a red barn in the center. Under it were the words "Faithful and Strong,” written in gold. On another wall was a historic rendering: the armies of Loyalty and Honesty meeting one another for the first time on the Chan, with the two Wardens shaking hands between their troops. The Warden of Loyalty stood proud with an open hand extended, a blue aura around her head. Warden of Honesty was obscured by a group of painters who were renovating the image.
At the end of the hallway was a huge illustration of three apples carved into the wall, marking the area as the center of the Honest Friend’s followers. The whole wing was home to those pledged to Her, all dressed in orange and yellow robes. Rolf and Coin part of this group too, though Coin lacked the proper attire. Pushing through the crowd, they moved into another room on the side, after which Rolf spoke up.
“I trust the voyage over was agreeable?” he asked pleasantly.
“It was fine. A bit slow, though. I’ve never really cared for ships, to be honest. Engines are much more reliable.”
“I suppose they don’t need to catch the wind like ships do.” Rolf sharply turned another corner, before speaking up again as Counter moved to follow. “You’ll be meeting with all of the Wardens during their daily meeting after noon, but the Warden of Honesty has asked to speak with you personally before then.”
“The Warden of Honesty?” Coin said, alarmed. He had never met the Warden before, but the stories that had reached him told a grim story about the man. They said he was equal parts strange and terrifying, a giant who was inhuman, implacable, and utterly without mercy. Coin wondered for a moment how his friends back on Reddit might have felt, if they were in his place. Book and Es would have been honored, and Greenheart would greet the Warden with the same cocksure smile he gave everything. Counter just felt a rock settle in his stomach. “Are you certain he would like to speak with me? I would hate to waste his ti—”
“He asked for you specifically. I’m sure he has a legitimate reason to occupy his time with you.” Rolf gave him a look, and suddenly got a moment of realization. “Ah—you didn’t happen to hear any stories about the Warden before you came, did you?”
How could I not? Coin thought. “They said… he is very brave. And true.”
“I’m sure they also said he was twelve feet tall, breathed fire, and could kill with a glance. I suppose they also said he was a demon in human form as well?” The assistant laughed. “Some of the stories are true, Sir Coin, but many aren’t. You shouldn’t fear meeting him. He is an intensely private man, and sees few guests. You should be honored that he’d like you to join him."
“I… yes, very well,” Counter said, still uneasy. He thought about staying silent, but instead bit his lip and asked, “What is he really like then? I’m sure you know him better than I do.”
Rolf was quiet for a moment, then replied carefully. “He is beyond description. The Warden has... enlarged my mind. A genius, and no less,” he said, his voice full of awe.
He pushed the door open, and the two of them went inside. The room was dim, barely lit at all aside from some candles in an alcove on the wall. It was almost completely bare as well. There was a single chair set aside, completely plain and without ornament. The floor was cold, pale stone, hard and uncovered. Directly in front of Coin, on the other side, was another door, tightly shut. There were two guards standing on either side of it, and a faint light coming from the crack below the door. On the other side, Counter could hear a sound, half-inaudible it was so faint, like a log crackling and burning on a fire.
Seeing them arrive, one of the guards walked up to the two. He had messy hair that stuck up in some places and was matted down in others, and wore chainmail armor with an orange cloak and a sword at his belt. His hand went to the hilt of his weapon as he approached them. “Hey, whoa. What are you doing here, Rolf? And who’s this one?” he said, pointing at Counter.
“This is the man from Reddit, Russi. You remember? The one the Wardens wanted to meet? I thought it would be best if he could talk to the Warden now, before he met the-”
“Oh, he wants to talk to him, hmm?” the guard said, taking a step closer, keeping a hand tight on his sword’s hilt while pointing a quivering finger at Coin. “Listen close. You don’t talk to him, you get that? You listen to him, and he talks to you.”
Coin started to back away slowly, but Rolf stepped in between the two of them. “Calm down, Russi. The Warden asked for him—he isn’t just barging in on a whim. And I was the one who brought him here, so you can blame me for just coming in like this.”
Russi eyed them suspiciously, leaning past Rolf to peer at Coin again. Looking at him, Coin couldn’t help but notice that the guard had a symbol on his chest that matched that of Rolf’s: a golden eye. As he started to wonder what the image meant, Russi spoke up again. “You’re a good man, Rolf, don’t think I don’t know that. But he can’t be thinking he can just go up to the Warden like the Great Honest One is any man. He has the form of a man, yes, but none of the letter, you see? The shape is not him! He’s an instrument,” he said as he turned back to Coin. “You have to remember what he is, or you’ll hurt, understand?”
Coin nodded his head, even though he hadn’t the slightest idea what the deranged guard was talking about. The light under the door seemed to be growing brighter, and the strange crackling sound from behind it was intensifying. By now, however, the other guard had walked up and put a hand on Russi’s shoulder.
“Calm down, friend,” he said. “The Warden will be out soon, and we’ll make sure this one understands before he meets him. You stand watch at the door.”
Russi shot another look at Coin, but nodded his head and walked back to the still-closed door. The other guard turned to Coin. “Sorry about Russi. He can be a bit… enthusiastic towards new people meeting with the Warden.”
“Is he alright?” Coin asked, giving a hesitant glance at Russi. “I thought he was going to attack me, for a moment there.” Truthfully, he was still worried, but now that he was back at his post Russi almost appeared not to notice the people in front of him. His eyes were fixed forward, unflinching, with his hand down at his sword-hilt.
“He can be like that when he thinks people are disrespecting the Warden. He has an enormous respect for him, as do we all.”
Coin nodded, but couldn’t help but feel on-edge. This ‘Russi’ character seemed calm now, but he had a sword and Coin did not.
The guard turned his attention to Rolf. “He isn’t completely wrong, though. The Warden is meditating at the moment, and cannot be disturbed under any circumstances. You know that as well as I do, Rolf, so I’m afraid that you two will have to wait until he’s finished. Besides,” he said to Coin, “there are a few things you should know before you meet him.”
Coin looked between the two of them, lost. “Like what?”
“The Warden is not a man for pleasantries or flattery. Don’t use either of them when you’re speaking to him, just speak as plainly and as straightforwardly as you can. And don’t be unnerved by how he speaks either. Once you know him, you’ll understand.”
“Don’t mention anything about his appearance either, especially his honest eye,” Rolf interjected. “He’s never told anyone about it, and asking will only make him angry. And never lie to him, under any circumstance. He can tell, and there’s no better way to earn his ire than to prove you’re a liar.”
“What?” Coin asked, confused. He glanced over to the closed door, trying to imagine the man who was behind it. The light from under the door was quite bright now, and the burning sound was louder than ever. “How can he tell? And what do you mean, his honest eye? What a-”
Before he could finish, a woman wearing purple robes with a green hood walked in. She strode up to the guard urgently.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Lord Feylen has requested the Warden of Honesty’s presence immediately,” she said quickly, while giving a bow.
Russi walked up again. “He’s not to be disturbed when he’s in his chambers. Not under any circumstan-”
Suddenly, the light under the door went out, and the noise from behind it stopped. Russi went wide-eyed and ran back to the door, as did the other guard. Coin, Rolf, and the messenger were left staring at the door as a series of metallic clunks came from the other side. Both Rolf and the messenger went down on one knee facing the door, and once Coin saw he did the same, panicked.
Coin was sweating under his clothes, but Rolf leaned over to him and whispered, “Don’t worry too much. Russi was right about another thing, though. The Warden is greater, different from anyone in the world. He’ll change who you are, how you think, everything.”
“I’m not sure I should be meeting him now,” Counter said. He had the sudden urge to run out of the room, but a similar terror kept him rooted to the spot. “I don’t even know his name!”
Rolf looked at him, almost amused. “The Great Honest One? He doesn’t have a name. Isn’t that the most incredible thing?” he said, softly, as he looked again at the door.
Coin followed his eyes, and saw the doorknob turn. The door opened quickly, and Counter almost gasped as his eyes shot up to finally see the Warden of Honesty emerge from the black room behind him.
* * * * * *
“I had been asleep in the street. I thought I had been asleep. Was I? But I was not, though only that could explain the sight above me. The paper sky was burning away, the fabric veil of blue and pale clouds dissolving from my mind’s eye, leaving behind only the foundations of the world! Terrible numeracies multiplied and stretched thin across strange aeons that were tortured into intelligible geometry, flickering into comprehension. The grave symbols of future times were open, and across the empty gulf I saw the opening of the World Beyond the Web, and the World Beyond Even That!
“Beyond and terrible things swirled about me, like the sea-foam, and ahead I saw the fuel of the fire that torched the sky above. An alien and distant sun was rising behind the tall tower of the city that hung on the blue mountain, bathing the vale in the illume. The moon dripped with bitter tears of black oil, prompted by foreign stars to struggle against its cage bars. I saw the colored shapes that danced and spun and called my name, and through the tears I could at last see the Six-Pointed Star of fire!
Its tendrils reached and called into our world to find the devout and true, and to lead us into glory within and without, never ceasing until the All-Web would buckle under the higher weight of the Divine Friendship. I saw the flames of gold curl around, effortless and untied, to the surface, and pool in labors to light their instrument. And all the while, the Eye!
“He is upon us, friends of friends, the Great Honest One! We are cradled in his soul, and he is the One Who Finds The Truth, the Warden Godsight! The Eye is upon all, and sees all below and beyond, and he will lead us to the eternal victory of the Lady’s Vision — weep, friends of friends, weep for joy at the instrument of the Six and One. Weep long for terror at your salvation!”
— “The Seeings of an Honest Eye,” by an anonymous author.
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“Aside from the obvious division of the fandom into the six separate branches, there also exists a classification based on when the convert joined the Brony Collective. The group called Faustians are those who joined during the Season of Discovery, when the Collective first formed on the Chan, and in the ensuing Drought that occurred immediately after. On the other hand, the Thiessenites are all those who joined after this first Season.
“Since the greatest expansion of Brony converts occurred during the Second Rise and the Season of Expansion, it is unsurprising that the Thiessenites comprise a vast majority of the fandom: though exact numbers are difficult to come across, it has been theorized that there are anywhere between 3-to-12 Thiessenites for every Faustian Brony. Despite this, however, the Faustians have a disproportionate influence in the fandom, with all of the six Wardens having joined during the First Rise and most other high-ranking members having done the same — this is particularly true among the militant branches, whose officers are often veterans from the Brony Wars in the Chan.
“In terms of philosophical differences between the two groups, however, there are few. The denominations exist more as a way to categorize who-came-when than to classify prevailing beliefs, and thus there is little conflict between the two. It is true, though, that Faustians are often inclined towards the doctrine of Original Intention — that the truth of Six that is not explicitly named in the Works should be derived from the beliefs and views of the creator-source — than Thiessenites often are. The latter majority are more sympathetic to the idea of Adaptive Intention — that the Works have changed in subtle ways, and while we must remain respectful of the original intent, one must pursue the truth of Six through other avenues, rather than risk the temptation of nostalgia or reactionary resistance to new ideas.”
— “Six Friends: The Structure and Society of the Brony Collective”, by Trending Tome