I believe that Aberrant Archaosa is correct in her assessment of these paintings.

Each of these paintings has involved groups of people. How those groups of people treat themselves and how groups of people treat others. I was not present for the first, but the second - the feast - involved a king and his lessers. Who got what and why. The next was the Winter. How to get a group to agree upon an action to take in order to survive. The Knife, a pair come to odds - how communication could have avoided this situation all together.

The Drunkard, surrounded by friends until they all perish and stuck in his ways until he too met the ground, and how those around him did not even care to know what happened. Simply that he stopped coming around.

Even looking at the actions that are being undertaken in each of these collections - a varied group of adventurers from practically all walks of life having to work together to find the answer.

To find strength in each other to achieve the required outcome.

Then the Strangers very words to those attending Myatt, so soon after the lessons of the entity - I shall quote here directly from Taelle's Original post 22020 as I cannot be bothered to write it out: "She warns us about the accumulation of grudges and resentment, both in our own hearts as well as in the hearts of those whose lives we touch, whether it be from our casual hunting or our world-changing heroics. She admits to being mortal, and having her own grudge to nurse, but will not elaborate on what that grudge may be. She grimly says outright that one day, the 'birds will come home to roost'."

How ironic to so many I am sure that this and the last post were written by those of the West. The wicked witches as it were. Yet, I cannot speak to Ashtan's teachings (I am not familiar with them) but I did emphasise of the very day that the Hidden Stranger gave her omen that so many have not faced the Hardship of Letting Go. Or of finding the Strength to move past what blocks them.

Resentment is the pest-killing poison that you drink while staring at the rat and hoping it will die.

The teachings of Lord Sartan may not be well known and not at all understood by any outside of Mhaldor, but He teaches us that nothing is more important than the drive for advancement and greatness, through discipline and pain, and to challenge ourselves to find strength so that we may overcome any and all obstacles that face us.

He states that the enemies of strength are the values of forgiveness, tolerance, and a laxity of disciple. You do not need to forgive to move forward. You do not need to tolerate to work together, you simple need to act and weigh what is more important at that moment. Holding onto a petty grievance or a perceived slight, or getting what it is you are working towards.

As Nezaya said in an undirectly related, but very apt post, is the jewel of your life so complete that you need not look at your own imperfections? Are you comfortable enough to sit back and say you are perfection itself and your judgement is both peerless and so inscrutable that your perception of the world is the only perception of the world?

As mentioned by Aberrant Archaosa, art is a subjective interpretation by the viewer. Never forget that you are not the only viewer, nor that you are not the creator. Your view is important, but no more important than anyone elses. Likewise, by itself it is not worth much, but presented with others in equal measure it becomes a piece of art on its own.

I have no real conclusion here. Simply that all of this back and forth on the news posts attacking each other may very well be losing the very point of this entire endeavor at all.

Insid'atori Jems Aristata
Also the Keeper of the Oak and Stone

Penned by my hand on the 6th of Scarlatan, in the year 959 AF.