[Video]

[gundhamster]

[The video starts with Gundham just sort of sitting on a bale of hay at the stables. His newfound magical abilities has made upkeep far easier as he no longer really needed to go into town for supplies, and he now had a bit too much time with his own thoughts. After a moment of hesitation, he finally decides to speak.]

I have a hypothetical that I would like opinions on from the rest of you.


In a far off world, there is a war between the forces of light and darkness. Among the forces of darkness there is an order of Death Knights that act as generals for the King of Darkness. Little is known about them or how they operate, mainly because there are no survivors to report on any encounters. The only concrete facts known about them is that wherever they go all that is left in their wake is death and ash. None are spared, warriors, civilians, children, none are spared.

The forces of Light decide that the best way to end the war is to assassinate the king, cutting off the power the knights receive from the king. However, in doing so, it's revealed that the knights were operating under duress, though the specifics are not widely known. The knights had no choice in the matter and the weight of their actions nearly crush them when freed from the king's influence.

My question to you is what would you do with these knights? Do they deserve to be given to the families of those they slew and made an example of? Would you console them? Or simply do nothing and make them figure it out for themselves?

Do they deserve redemption, or are they too far gone?

Comments

Audio | Anonymous

[angel_of_death]

[This isn't the first time Walter has heard a question along this vein on the network. He remembers the first time. It did not go well, and he'd ended up in conflict with the person making the transmission.

Come to think of it, he hasn't seen or heard anything of that person in months. Not since he'd woken up outside after the night run, out in the storm, and the man had responded to his transmission with actual consideration. He hasn't seen or heard anything of the person he was with out there, either.

It leaves him feeling rather introspective as he responds.]

Which is he question you really want answered?

[gundhamster]

[Gundham just sighs. He's honestly not sure what he's trying to accomplish.]

Whichever you feel like answering.

Sigh, I just saw the typo in my last tag. Oh well.

[angel_of_death]

Then I will speak plainly.

There isn't clear-cut answer to redemption in the eyes of the world. They would neither be universally hated nor universally condemned. Some people will forgive others no matter how cruel their actions. Some people will never forgive no matter how slight the offense. No doubt there would be people willing to go to great lengths to kill them, and it is possible there would be people willing to go to great lengths to protect them because they weren't acting entirely under their own will.

So, the real question regarding what to do with them is whether they would find it acceptable that others might die in the course of protecting them.

Living a peaceful, happy life mingling in the public as they once did would not be possible. Even if they were under the control of another, so long as their identities are known and it is known that they are alive, they will be in danger, and it is likely that more will die.

There are three paths that are workable in the context of keeping a fragile society from destabilizing. One, to harbour them in secret and have them work to prevent the rise of another evil king. Two, to hide those who do not have the ability to do so in such a way that they can still be monitored by those willing to be responsible for their safety. Or three, to end them in as merciful a manner as possible.

Which path gets chosen in the end would depend on the individual knight.

If it's any consolation, I didn't.

[gundhamster]

And if they to a man refuse all three options? What if they decided to live apart from society, keeping to themselves but defending themselves against those that would come for them?

[And there it is. Probably the most straightforward question Gundham really wants answered.]

[angel_of_death]

If such is their decision, I would entirely expect some to make the attempt to come after them. It is also possible that, failing that, the aggrieved may take out their frustration upon those that defeated the original king for allowing them to leave. To what extent, I could not say.

However, if the knights were to relapse into the behaviours they exhibited under the fallen king, I would not be surprised if society fully turned on those they once perceived as heroes.

[gundhamster]

[There's a moment of consideration for the survivors of Hope's Peak that puts Hinata's decision into a new light. No, he couldn't let that happen.]

Something tells me that the knights would rather live hated for something they were not responsible for than allow those that freed them come to harm.

[angel_of_death]

[An unenviable position. But a sentiment he can respect.]

I hope they find peace.

[gundhamster]

[Gundham sighs slightly.]

And I hope peace is something that still exists in such a world.

[angel_of_death]

Of course it does. Finding it for yourself is the tricky part.

[His tone is not in any way idealistic. If anything, it's grumbling.]

[gundhamster]

Perhaps for most people. I wish I shared your optimism, however grim it may be.

[Gundham just matches that tone.]

[angel_of_death]

I wouldn't call myself optimistic. I'm just in a line of work where horrible things are a routine occurrence.