Heart of Virtue
We have all come know the symbol of the Empire. It has been called many names throughout the ages. Perhaps the least understood is the Heart of Virtue or tIq ghob in the ancient tongue. The Heart of Virtue originated from an archaic weapon favored by qeylIs, The Unforgettable. It is said he chose this as the symbol of his house and later the Empire because of the weapon's unequaled balance. Yet, this is inaccurate. qeylIs chose it because each of the three blades represents those virtues that are the very foundation of every true warrior. Duty, Honor, Loyalty. Each in perfect balance.
Of these three blades, Duty is the first virtue. Duty is the beginning and the end of the warrior's path. Without Duty a warrior becomes slave to vain, glory, and reckless self-interest. A true warrior will not tolerate these vices neither in his comrades nor in himself.
The longest blade of the Heart of Virtue belongs to honor. It is the most difficult to master. It has been said, "Mine honor is my life. In that I live. And for it I will die!"
What is honor? Honor is the absolute and unselfish adherence to all virtues. To truth, courage, forthrightness. It encompasses all of these and yet it is greater. It is the fire illuminating the differences between an armed savage and a true warrior. It is the light to guide you along the warrior path.
All true warriors travel the same river of blood. If one is disgraced we are all disgraced. If one finds his death in glory, we all share in that glory. No true warrior would allow another to suffer an unjust disgrace nor begrudge him the fruits of a well-earned victory. Know this and your mastery of the Heart of Virtue will be all but complete. Ignore it, and you will ultimately fail your comrades as you fail yourselves. That is why the third blade is Loyalty. We are all combined by our common journey.

-General Chang (3rd Day: Escort debriefing at the Elite Academy)