Book of the Shield

Let all who read this know the truth of this world and all worlds governed by the great gods. Mightiest among all the great gods is Ashtyr. It was she that understood the true perils of Chaos. It was she that bound her brother and sister to the pact of war. It was she that lead the charge and in the end defeated the unnamable and unknowable foe. It was Ashtyr acted as councilor as first her brother and then her sister tried to bring order and peace to the new world of Cadash. It was Ashtyr who understood that all of the god's children needed a true leader, and so she created Red Talon from her very being and placed her upon our world. It was Ashtyr through Red Talon who overthrew the corrupted children of Yeno, and brought first great Empire of Order to Reluria. Blessed are we who live in these times, for we know her true wisdom and protection.

- Opening Script from the current version of the Book of the Shield

Purpose

The Book of the Shield describes the glory of Ashtyr and her place of prominence in the pantheon of gods on Cadash. Early portions recount Ashtyr's part in the creation of Cadash and the battles against Chaos. Later portions concern her relation to her children: Humans, Halflings and Dwarves. It then shifts focus to Red Talon and her exploits at the end of the second age and beyond.  Contents - Book of the Shield

Document Structure

References

It is believed that older versions of The Book of the Shield  do exist, but the only one that has been verified by the High Temple in Theos is the ancient Tyrian text locked in thier vault. Few have seen this text, and there are other sects of followers of Ashtyr and Red Talon who now doubt the truth of the official Theosian translation. Some of the devout have been searching for older texts in The Rift (the ruins of the capital of the Tyrian Empire) and across Cadash.

Publication Status

The Book of the Shield is a well distributed document in the lands where humans, halflings and dwarves dwell. Even the smallest chapel has a copy of the book in some form or another. In large cities, copies of the book of various quality are sold in cathedrals to spread the tales and legends of the Goddess and her Champion.
Other translations of the same or similar stories do exist and are even more popular in certain regions.

Historical Details

Background

Scholars of the text argue about when book was first written and completed. Some say that it appears to have been compiled over centuries, and the current translation was compiled from pre-cataclysm sources, but may not reflect the original version. 
The original version is believed to have been a chronicle of the power of the goddess and her champion and meant to explain the faith to those who wished to learn it. Partnered with The Book of the Axe which focuses more on priestly rituals and ceremonies it was meant to be the guide for the faithful.

History

It is understood that the first version of The Book of the Shield was written about a century after the first death of Red Talon. One of her dedicated priestesses took the story of the creation of Cadash (well known to the First Folk and children of Yeno) and reworked it in a more Ashtyr-centric version. But this priestess is also the one who used the works of Nikitas Terzo, Red Talon's bard companion, to record the stories of the first incarnation of the Avatar.
Afterwards, additional stories of the returning avatars were added to The Book of the Shield over the centuries. It is said that shortly before the fall of the Tyrian Empire the most complete version of The Book of the Shield was a massive tome. Like so much this version was lost to The Cataclysm. 
The modern version of the text of the Theosian Edition, translated from the ancient Tyrian manuscripts kept in the Imperial City of Theos. This translation into the modern common tongue was done by High Priestess Vesnia Korrito about 150 years after the Cataclysm. It is known that the Theosian Edition is far from complete, but what is included is enough to guide the faithful.

Type

Manuscript, Religious

Medium

Paper

Myth

Red Talon

Location

Mystemere