"In a world where magic thrummed through the air and ancient creatures roamed the land, the questions of good and evil loomed large and ever present like the stars above. What defines goodness? What marks the threshold of evil? These queries have echoed through the ages, whispered in the hearts of those who dare to wield power and shape destinies.
Justice, they say is blind. Yet, who dares to be its eyes? The knights, blessed by the Divine believe they are paragons of virtue, defenders of the innocent. Guided by the tenets of their gods and goddesses they stand as beacons of moral clarity in a world rife with ambiguity. But as they survey the ruins of battle can they truly claim to be devoid of guilt? For every life they save another may be lost, each choice is a double edged sword, striking at the very heart of their righteousness.
The concept of evil is equally complex. It is not always the cackling villain clad in dark armor. Sometimes it is the quiet decisions made in the shadows, the sacrifices deemed necessary for the greater good. An act of mercy can in turn, lead to devastation, while an act of violence may birth unexpected redemption. The tapestry of existence is woven with threads of conflicting motivations, where even the noblest intentions can bear bitter fruit.
In temples and halls of power, the tales of heroes and monsters are spun, colored by the hands of those who tell them. Some may be seen as the epitome of evil a scourge upon the land and a threat to the delicate balance of order. To others they are rebels, challenging the status quo and fighting against an unjust system that rewards conformity over courage.
Yet, amid the clamor of judgment and opinion the essence of true justice remains elusive. It is a flickering candle in a tempest, often drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Who then, is equipped to determine the fate of another? Is it the knights with their ironclad codes guided by the divine will of their gods? The mercenaries driven by profit? The common folk whose lives are shaped by the actions of those in power?
The gods and goddesses themselves loom large in this philosophical quandary. Worshiped by knights, mages and races alike, they are seen as the arbiters of good and evil. But if they set the standards what of their own nature? Are they paragons of virtue or do their actions betray a more complex morality? The gods, with their whims and desires may have agendas that clash with the very concepts they inspire in their followers.
As the sun sets over this tumultuous world, casting long shadows upon the earth, one must ponder. In a realm where good and evil are but reflections of perspective can anyone truly claim to be the harbinger of justice? Or are they all mere players in a grand narrative, each acting out their roles, unaware of the greater truths that bind them?
In the end, the definitions of good and evil remain a matter of perception, shifting like the sands of time. What is right for one may be an abomination to another, and the heart of the world beats to the rhythm of these eternal questions, waiting for answers that may never come. Perhaps even the Divine, in their lofty realms, must confront the shadows that dance within their own hearts-"
Ack!
Rubbing his head after being cut off by a swift smack, Kethril a young Dragonewt Adventurer, turned to find himself greeted by his mentor and senior adventurer, Durgan a Dwarf. The seasoned dwarf spoke firmly as he eyed the Knights from Elysoria, a kingdom renowned for boasting some of the best knights in all of Arcanis. "Kethril, it's better to keep your views and thoughts regarding justice to yourself when around knights, understood?"
With a confused expression, the Dragonewt nodded, rubbing his scaly head as he glanced over to Sable, one of the few elves he had encountered since becoming an adventurer. "Sorry, Sable…"
With a sigh she shook her head, walking past both Kethril and Durgan, who merely scoffed at the elf, reminding the young adventurer of the long standing rivalry between elves and dwarves. Sable ignored the remark and soon caught up with the knights and mercenaries ahead of them.
"Kethril."
Blinking and shaking himself out of his thoughts, he looked down at Durgan. "Do you remember the commission from the Guild?"
With a small nod, the Dragonewt raised his scaled hand and pointed a claw upward as he listed off the request. "Track the Rogue Knight, capture the Rogue Knight, and lastly turn him in for execution... right?"
"That is the gist of it, yes. However, do you remember who the Rogue Knight is?"
With a nod, Kethril spoke the name clearly. "It's Kaden, the Rogue Knight." Out of the corner of his sharp eyes, he caught the flinch of one of the Elysoria knights at the mention of the name but paid no mind as Durgan sighed.
"You didn't read the information on him, did you?"
Embarrassed at being caught, the young adventurer shook his head. "N-no… I mean, why would I? It's just a Rogue Knight and maybe a few others who followed him. But we have the Elysoria Knights, high-grade mercenaries and adventurers... There's no way a human, even one blessed by a god, could fight against us."
With another sigh Durgan shook his head, scratching his chin as he looked ahead at the others, who were slightly eavesdropping on the conversation between him and Kethril. "Kethril, what is the difference between a human and say, an orc?"
Confused, Kethril pondered before answering as he turned his gaze away from his mentor to take in the sights of the path that would lead the odd party to a nearby village. "An orc is stronger and faster than a human, while a human in most cases is smarter."
With a hum, Durgan agreed before Kethril continued. "However, that changes when a human becomes an adventurer, mercenary, mage or knight."
"And why is that?"
With a shrug, causing the Dragonewt's great sword to shift on his back, he recounted what he remembered. "For adventurers, they gain "feats" in a dungeon which depending on the dungeon they're in, can cause them to grow stronger physically or magically. Mercenaries also gain "feats" but unlike adventurers, they don't need to be in a dungeon but must be in a contract to gain "feats" and lastly, knights gain strength through divine blessings bestowed upon them by the gods they worship and have faith in."
Durgan hummed in agreement before speaking. "And what of the humans who are not adventurers, mercenaries, or knights? How do they compete in strength with them and an orc?"
Now confused and concerned that Kethril's mentor had lost his train of thought, he replied, "They don't, unless they are a half-breed between demi-humans and humans."
With another hum, the group began trekking along gravel, signaling they were closing in on the village just as the sun was setting. "What about mages?" Durgan lazily pointed to Jorin, a retired mage and adventurer who had accompanied them.
"Mages can't physically compete with an orc unless they use a summon."
With a slight shake of his head, Durgan continued. "What would you call a human who is not a demi, a mage nor an adventurer or mercenary and who wasn't blessed by a god but can overpower an orc with strength?"
With a blink, just as the party entered the village and made their towards a nearby tavern, Kethril stopped and Durgan who had been walking in front of him, halted and turned.
"A freak of nature."