[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

[colchismagecraft]

I see... morality, hm? I'd be curious to know your thoughts on that when we have a little more time.

[Because she doesn't want to pull the conversation back to her when they're running over his own moral dilemma.]

...Why would they have had to live in captivity? If the world turned on them for their actions, why should they bend to the world's whims?

Or were they making some attempt to prove they were not as evil as their reputation would suggest?

[gundhamster]

It is...

[Gundham trails off as he realizes that elaborating as to the exact process of freeing the 'generals' would likely betray the hypothetical nature of his inquiry.]

...an assumption. After all, those that suffered at their hands would likely seek some sort of incarceration, would they not?

[colchismagecraft]

...Perhaps. I would have sought out my vengeance, if myself or my loved ones had been harmed by them.

[In further 'hypotheticals': ]

In the legend I spoke of, the woman who had been marked as a witch embraced that mantle of evil. She was blamed for all of the ugliness and evil in the world- and so she accepted that. If she was to be condemned to be only seen as a witch, then she would live as a witch.

...I wonder, maybe it is more similar to those Knights than I thought.

[gundhamster]

[That legend does indeed hit a little too close to home for Gundham.]

A tale that is all too familiar. At a certain point, it becomes impossible for someone to change perceptions and prejudices others hold for them. So why shouldn't they at least get some benefit by weaponizing such ignorant ideals for their own?

[colchismagecraft]

Yes, it's exactly that. Why not embrace it and use it for their own benefit, when the world has already made its decision?

[A pause, before she hesitated. She was fairly certain at this point that it had gone beyond simple hypotheticals, and she wasn't exactly doing much to hide that her's was entirely truth.]

...All legends and stories have a grain of truth to them, don't you think?

[Or, in other words: 'Was the story you told your truth, as well?']

[gundhamster]

[Gundham ruminates on how to respond to that question for... a while. At least fifteen minutes pass before responding and when he does, it's a simple response.]

All stories worth telling do.

[Whether his story is worth telling is... not something he can really comment on himself.]

[colchismagecraft]

[That was a long pause...perhaps best to take a step back, at this juncture.]

Remind me to tell you of Heroic Spirits at some point, I think you'll find the subject interesting.

I don't know if anything I've said so far can help you answer your questions, but... Was there anything else you wished to ask?

[gundhamster]

[That offer does get Gundham to arch his eyebrow in curiosity. Though for now he decides to not press it further.]

At this point, I'm honestly unsure of what it was I was looking for. Perhaps I just needed the distraction from my own thoughts. For that, I thank you but... no. There is nothing more I would ask at this point.

[colchismagecraft]

In that case, I will wish you a good evening and leave you be.

...But if you think of any other questions, you know how to contact me.