Guide to Enhiarg

1.10 The Infinite as a Patchwork Quilt (the Right to a Home)

The Infinite as a Patchwork Quilt (the Right to a Home) is the unofficial name for a Nae policy aimed at preserving and multiplying cultural diversity and guaranteeing all creatures the freedom to choose which society they wish to be (or not be) part of.

"The Infinite likes being a patchwork quilt of sorts, woven from vibrant knitted segments: countries, cities, villages, virtually all communities of creatures, each of them following their own philosophy, pursuing their own life goals, and fostering a particular spirit. Furthermore, he aspires for all his creatures to be able to travel freely from one patch to another, and even sew a new one to the whole, if desired. And the Infinite cannot stand it when someone tries to undo all this brilliant splendor, to color the threads according to their pleasure or weave them into patterns of their choosing..."

A Theater for Shadows

Again, it is of utmost importance for the Nae that every creature, irrespective of the structure of its soul, find its own unique place in the Infinite. Realizing this dream, however, would be much harder were countries to become indistinguishable from one another.

"... the Infinite strives tenaciously toward diversity—so that everybody would have an alternative. In the majority of cases our self-loathing stems not from genuinely detesting certain qualities of ours, but from not knowing where we could fit in the way we really are. Who will love us? Will we ever feel at home anywhere? It seems to us (and the illusion is perpetuated by various godlings) that things are the same everywhere: interchangeable morals and ideals... That there's nowhere to run. But that is not so. The Infinite has made certain that everyone has a place to run. We call this principle "the right to a home." I can live at peace, openly, without hiding my nature, without... puffing myself up, without crawling out of my skin, precisely because I am absolutely certain that, with a little hard work, I can always find creatures who will love me for who I am, without any embellishments. That doesn't mean I don't aspire to better myself. But that's just it—I want to genuinely better myself, not create the illusion of betterment in the eyes of others. And that "better" version of myself is also truly, authentically mine, and not borrowed from some alien system of moral values."

"The part about creatures is clear," Anar smiled, indulging her fervor. "But the home... Are we talking geography, territory?

"Everything. The Infinite does everything possible to ensure that each of the multitude of worlds, countries and cities comprising him has a face of its own: its own way of life, tradition, culture, dominant worldview, its own... spirit. It is to this end that he engages, first and foremost, in the selection and sorting of souls".

The Cat Who Knew How to Cry

By extending their dominion to another group of worlds, the Nae change the circulatory system of souls in them. Now, the creatures' souls fly to Veindor after death, instead of, say, to the local deities for judgment and subsequent assignment to places of torment or pleasure. The Merciful and Tialianna look at the unique properties of the creature's soul (rather than past deeds or their own likes/dislikes), and select for it a new body and place of birth accordingly. As a rule, it is reincarnated in a place with the highest concentration of "kin"—creatures closest to its own soul and spirit. Therein lies the essence of soul selection.

Soul sorting is done by life itself. Its essence lies in worldview migration, the creatures' perpetual search for a place where they could feel, as they say, among friends—living in harmony with their own nature in an environment of likeminded individuals. To keep patches of the Infinite from fading, and the whole quilt from turning into an uninspiring mess of dull and uncertain color, leaders of the majority of Naeric international and inter-realm communities pursue a special migration policy.

"Rual is a city of rigid isolation. Whereas the overwhelming majority of other countries are not. They represent communities of likeminded creatures, one's kin in soul and spirit, who view the world in a similar way and wouldn't dream of hiding from said world. Some of these communities, primarily the large commercial cities, even embrace different cultures, glad to include creatures of all persuasions, provided they display similar genuine tolerance toward their neighbors." Alu paused. "However, even open borders are not absolute. Every place operates by its own rules, has its own notions of acceptable and unacceptable, polite and impolite, and one must try not to violate those. You may travel from one country to another and learn about their culture, but you mustn't forget that you are a guest. That land has its own masters; it is their home, and you must respect their right to live as they like. There are but two exceptions or reasons to intervene in the internal business of a foreign society. Firstly, every government must provide all dissident citizens the opportunity to leave without hindrance, and take their belongings with them. Secondly, immigrants must be made aware of all the norms and regulations present in their new place of residence, which they must abide by or be punished to the full extent of the law."

The Cat Who Knew How to Cry

In Enhiarg, all of the above has been reflected in the so-called "Ellis' Note," signed by all of Naeria and many other countries outside its borders.