Felixmac09
Newbie
I feel a boiling in my gut, a bubbling, frothing urge to do something. I know I may be laughed at for what I am about to say, but if anything, that knowledge makes the boiling that much more unbearable. The other day, I was out wandering with a fine group of adventurers, many of whom I count as friends. We were wandering because we were bored; I believe I remember saying I wanted to find something to kill.
I regret those words more than I would have thought possible.
A group of three human bandits masquerading as merchants decided to attack our party despite being outnumbered. Despite being outnumbered, and as they were to find out soon, outmatched. Clearly, they were driven by desperation. Note that.
In the ensuing fracas, I engaged a caster wielding a great-sword. As we fought, he watched as his comrades fell, and in between sword blows, he frantically threw healing spells at the bleeding bandits, and finally he threw at me a necrotic spell of significant strength, laying me out on the ground, at the mercy of the fates. Fortunately, my friends and comrades were more competent than I, and when I was revived, I found three dead bandits. As we began congratulating ourselves on our victory, wiping blood from our blades, it hit me. These men were no shambling skeletons, no foul lichs or cruel constructs. These were men. These may have been the same farmers we've been protecting, driven to desperation and forced to turn to banditry to feed their families. And now they lay slain by our hands, never seeing a fair trial; only the harsh law of might makes right.
Now, to clarify, I do not fault my comrades for defending themselves, and even killing these attackers. We have all learned to be tough, not to feel compassion for those on the other end of our blade. Moral quandaries can cost one their life in battle. But I say we have let ourselves fall too far.
Later in the day, I witnessed boggles being killed either out of sport or xenophobic intent. They were some of the most well-behaved boggles I've ever encountered, and yet the very people I normally ally myself with seemed to revel in slaying them. It was described as "wiping the dung off your shoe".
When those people called heros and adventurers massacre innocents and end lives without so much as a backward glance, I believe it is time we re-evaluate. I certainly will be moving in a new direction. I am in need of training in resuscitating those who are dying and of nonlethal ways of subduing an opponent. I invite everyone to at least pause before they drive their blade into the throat or heart of a fallen opponent "Do they need to be killed? Do they deserve it? Or is there something else I can do?"
For the protection of innocents and the rights of all, I urge us to think.
I regret those words more than I would have thought possible.
A group of three human bandits masquerading as merchants decided to attack our party despite being outnumbered. Despite being outnumbered, and as they were to find out soon, outmatched. Clearly, they were driven by desperation. Note that.
In the ensuing fracas, I engaged a caster wielding a great-sword. As we fought, he watched as his comrades fell, and in between sword blows, he frantically threw healing spells at the bleeding bandits, and finally he threw at me a necrotic spell of significant strength, laying me out on the ground, at the mercy of the fates. Fortunately, my friends and comrades were more competent than I, and when I was revived, I found three dead bandits. As we began congratulating ourselves on our victory, wiping blood from our blades, it hit me. These men were no shambling skeletons, no foul lichs or cruel constructs. These were men. These may have been the same farmers we've been protecting, driven to desperation and forced to turn to banditry to feed their families. And now they lay slain by our hands, never seeing a fair trial; only the harsh law of might makes right.
Now, to clarify, I do not fault my comrades for defending themselves, and even killing these attackers. We have all learned to be tough, not to feel compassion for those on the other end of our blade. Moral quandaries can cost one their life in battle. But I say we have let ourselves fall too far.
Later in the day, I witnessed boggles being killed either out of sport or xenophobic intent. They were some of the most well-behaved boggles I've ever encountered, and yet the very people I normally ally myself with seemed to revel in slaying them. It was described as "wiping the dung off your shoe".
When those people called heros and adventurers massacre innocents and end lives without so much as a backward glance, I believe it is time we re-evaluate. I certainly will be moving in a new direction. I am in need of training in resuscitating those who are dying and of nonlethal ways of subduing an opponent. I invite everyone to at least pause before they drive their blade into the throat or heart of a fallen opponent "Do they need to be killed? Do they deserve it? Or is there something else I can do?"
For the protection of innocents and the rights of all, I urge us to think.
