This is the mandate that The Grim all serve. There is a slightly deeper definition, destruction of the Alliance and all who threaten the Horde, at all cost. But I have heard and followed empty words of valor before. “Glory of the Sin’Dorei” “For the Sunwell”. Men will use any words, forge any meaning, and construct any purpose to make those follow them. I’m not about to make the same mistake again.“Peace through annihilation…”
To understand this Mandate, I need to evaluate everyone within the Grim. From the highest ranking, to the lowest supplicant such as myself; to see if the teachings falter, the meanings waiver, or devotion dissipates. The Leader of the Grim is a Tauren Paladin by the name of Awatu. I have yet to speak with this leader, and have not seen him present at the Inquisitions, however he does command much respect from his followers. I had to find out more for myself.
I ended up heading his call to battle in Neltharion’s Lair, together with a band of combatants from the Grim we ventured deep into Highmountain, and faced many obstacles. But Awatu stood fast, spoke very softly and carried quite the large stick. When we finally reached the pit where the Underking took refuge, we battled hard and fierce, but every one of us fell to the Underking and his minions, all but Awatu. As I laid there, barely conscious, I could see him taking on Dargrul and his minions singlehandedly. It was quite an impressive feat, which has earned my respect and admiration for his battle prowess. At least I can rest assured that the Leader of the Grim is not some loud-mouthed aristocrat, but a seasoned veteran who can hold his own.
Coming down the pyramid of power leads me to the High Inquisitor Khorvis, of whom my own Inquisitor answers too. I spoke with him in Dalaran for a brief moment, attempting to get his personal views on things. I was half expecting a sales pitch, but was pleasantly surprised on how informal the conversation was. To him the mandate was a dream of release, where one day he could lay down his blades and rest from the endless fighting within the world. I could understand this mentality, as the futility of war can often shatter a man’s will and determination. The mandate is his reason to go on, to continue without surrendering to the reality that war will never change.
I next spoke with the Irredeemable known as Lupinum, the Deathless, or the Drunk as casually referred by many within the Grim. Leader of the Grim’s Battlefront forces against the Alliance, Lupinum sees the Mandate as an ideal in which the Grim itself is the physical embodiment of, to carry out its will of annihilation where ever threats may arise. His resolve for the destruction of our enemies were borderline along the likings of Professor Putricide, as he expressed the desire to “to cut a Plagued Swath through the alliance”, a notion I could fully support.
Following this pleasantly enlightened conversation, I sat among two other Supplicants in a small bar in Ogrimmar, where we spoke with IrredeemableAnaie, the Insane. Professionally, I could find nothing but respect for the Forsaken woman. She was leader of the Grim’s Raiding Forces against Worldly Threats to the Horde, and has served as one of the Oldest members among the Grim. Narrowing the Mandate to a simple philosophy of “killing all alliance until none are left and we may live in peace.” To her, “Time served in the Mandate means little, compared to the Action of the Mandate.” Personally, however I could see the correlation between her and her given title ‘Insane’ as her “possessed stuffed animal” collection put on quite the show.
Dedication and devotion to the cause, I expected nothing less from the ones who pull the strings. But hearing the glamorous story from the ones who write it was not going to give me the answers I seek. I needed to evaluate more. I decided to turn direction and look under the rock that was the Grim. There were several Supplicants among the Grim, some far older than I. I decided to seek out their personal views, to see through their eyes what the Mandate and the Grim were all about.
I spoke with an Orc Shaman, a supplicant by the name of Margott. Still fresh in his Inquisition, I sought to understand what he felt the Mandate was, through his interactions and inquisition. He told me “The Mandate is an undeniable truth that simply solidifies a deeper feeling within those who already felt it, as if it has been around long before we knew it existed.” Thinking spiritual for the moment (As I was dealing with a shaman) I could somewhat understand his views.
I then later spoke with another Supplicant, a Sin’Dorei Hunter by the name of Kainnis. He had far more experience in dealing with the Grim, and interestingly enough had not only left the Grim, but willingly returned. Already poised to complete his final trial for the Inquisition, Kainnis explained to me that his understanding of the mandate was “It is either us or them, its Survival. Dedication of mind and body to destroying our enemies, otherwise they would destroy us.” Kainnis had served as a sell-sword for a while, and served under other banners, but returned to the Grim after realizing “the Grim was the only way, the only truth, the only one willing to do what was necessary.”
A very basic…yet solid understanding of this mandate. It coincided with the leaders had told me, yet it was those very leaders who directly shaped the minds of the supplicants. It’s them who hold the hoop and direct us to jump as to achieve acceptance. To finalize my understanding, I had to find ones who were accepted, yet no longer under the heel of the shapers of these words. I wanted to see how such simplicity of Supplicants could grow to ideals of granger that formed in the minds of these leaders, I had to fill the gap in this puzzle.
In the middle ground of the Grim, I conversed via letter with a Reaper known asAnderlee, a Troll Shadow priest and Witchdoctor. By this time, I had begun my own advancement into the Broken Isles, as had he, but still found the time to respond via written correspondence. He wrote to me stating that the Mandate was “a rally together behind a common goal of peace, using our combined efforts to secure it. Every Grim can fulfil the mandate in their own personal way, and the beauty of the inquisition digs deep and discovers the means within supplicants.” He later reiterates that “The mandate is just an idea, but the Grim is the tool which the mandate needs to accomplish what we all dream of: peace.”
I spoke with another Magister, an Adherent I had heard some stories about, by the name of Lesara. We met in the Mages Hall underneath Dalaran and spoke for some time. To her the Mandate is Security, “Knowing she is not alone and her enemies will always face defeat.” She has served the Grim since just before the Legion Invasions into Azaroth, and thus has offered her knowledge of the Arcane arts to those who needed it, being one of the only active Mages within the Guild up until now. She continues to Fight along-side The Insane Anaie and remains within the Grim “Because the Grim are the Strongest, the best. They have been around since Thrall formed the new Horde.”
A Dream…An Ideal…A Truth…A Rally. So many definitions for something so simplistic. If history has taught us anything it is that peace is a lie. Even among the Old Gods and Titans, when all was new, conflict arose. We lesser mortals can do no better. I once thought that Killing Kael’thas and restoring the Sun Well would solve all my problems…but after all those years, all the devotion I poured into that cause, I was wrong. I thought sacrificing myself to the Forsaken and furthering its cause for immortality would find me peace, but even that has not filled the hole within my existence.“Peace through annihilation…”
The dream of peace keeps us going, gives us renewed hope when we know good damn well it will never end. Even if we eradicated the Alliance, and all within, another faction would rise to take its place, to threaten our peace. Hell even the members of the Horde can’t always get along. Why try?
But look what our quest for peace has lead us…a better world? No. But I have seen more of this world and worlds beyond, faced Deities and Demons alike. I may not have been the tipping point of the scale, but I damn sure put my weight down. Fighting for peace has made me strong, opened my eyes to the truths around me, something I could not boast had I sat at home, reading a book.
I fight for peace, with the desire to annihilate my enemies, but the true annihilation will come with my end. Not cowering in fear, but face to face on the battlefield, my choice, my terms. The Mandate is the energy in which keeps the cogs of life turning, moving, advancing, and I am the spark that powers that energy.
I will fight for the complete destruction of the Alliance. I will Kill and Pillage and turn the weapons of the enemy against itself and any and all threats to this world, old or new. I will overcome any obstacle. I choose to live by this, I choose to die by this, I choose to accept this truth…
I will find my peace…through annihilation.