The Pillars of Strength

by Robidu

In order to understand a particular culture it is required to know under which circumstances it has developed, and much can only be found in the legends and myths of said people. For the batarians it's the Pillars of Strength that give an account of their tenets of belief but also numerous myths.

A/N: These are translations of my original work "Die Pfeiler der Stärke" which you can find here: .de/s/5bcc7aa6000095bf193120a1/1/Die-Pfeiler-der-Staerke

There have once been seven brothers who descended from the skies over Khar'Shan, sent by the gods to populate this world.

Creating a new people they have been tasked with, according to their own image and the virtues that they embodied. The world that they elected for this purpose seemed particularly promising, but it was untamed and tumultous. But it was meant to become the soil for their people.

Thus spoke the gods: "This land is to be granted to you so that your people can live on and of it."

And the brothers spoke: "So be it."

The first to step forward was Batar. "It requires someone to instruct the people and guide it through dire straits," declared the first of the brothers and picked up a stone tablet. He hereunto wrote the principles according to which the new people was supposed to live.

"By the blessings of the gods the people will thrive," said Raet'zal, the second of the brothers, and stepped forward on his part, a sheet of parchment in his hand. "These writings are to be their Pillars of Strength."

The third brother, Charn, took a step forward and declared: "My knowledge is shall help the people gain new insights." Uttering these words he captured the fire and made it his subject.

The fourth to step forward was Malik. "My sword shall protect the people, now and for eternity," he said and extended his sword toward the sky.

"Envy and resentment are poison for the people," the fifth of the brothers, Chrazak, asserted, reached into the ground and pulled forth a nugget of pure gold. "That which is too much, take it to where it doesn't suffice!"

Kiram finally stepped forward as the sixth. "All of this is worth nothing if nobody is creating anything," he voiced his concern, gifted the fire to the people and crafted an angle from a piece of wood, a hammer from a stone and a brush from an animal's tail. "Creativity shall be the path toward progress."

"And which shall be your mission," a voice sounded from the sky, but the seventh brother, Hesit, remained silent with embarrassment. Where his brothers had the gift to lead and advance the people, he was merely granted stamina and strength, but no gift that would permit him to follow his brothers suit.

So it came that he knelt before his brothers and humbly offered to shape the world according to their will with the labor of his own hands. Thus the gods ruled that his bloodline were rightful the slaves of the progeny of the other six brothers, for they are to continue the work that Hesit began, now and for eternity.