Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Hazardous Times: Chapter XII

Legolas · 07-24-2002, 04:07 PM

Legolas

Becoming aware of his face showing his emotions so plainly, he quickly gathers them and puts them away. He thought he didn't usually do so, but he also knows how he can't hide his smile when he's near Sorsha. That woman definately brought his defences down. He smiles at the mental image of Sorsha, by herself, battering down a castle wall with her mace. Then he puts that, too, behind his elven face and turns more serious, even sounding almost sad at times.

"You have the right of it. It was a long time ago.
All elves were thought purehearted once, but you need only dig far enough to find evidence it's otherwise now. All races have been plagued by a sense of individuality. In a way, they have been corrupted, corrupted by humans. Given enough time and contact, mankind has that effect on all races, save perhaps the undead. Then, the undead consist in part of former humans, so I suppose they too have been affected.

The orcs are no longer as mindless as before, orcs. Still mostly evil, but no longer just following the strongest orc and charging after him. More and more orcs are burdened with a sense of honour, twisted as it may seem to us. Is it not true that in the past orcs simply raided villages and fought armies relentlessly, whereas now they can be bargained with? Aside from a rare raid here and there, the larger tribes don't do wars anymore. Paladins and rangers would not be out adventuring as we do if orcs were pure evil. There simply wouldn't be time.
Your colleague seems to be judging all the orc race by the tales of his nanny and probably a handful of experiences with the more savage ones. Although he might be right in this case, there's no way for him to be sure. The orcs could have good reasons for taking the people, to ensure their own safety or even protect these people from another threat. I think I've seen Blandamour in enough action to fear he'll let himself be led by prejudice."

He'd wanted to add a comment on how he didn't go around killing humans just because one might have picked his pocket once, but thinks better of it. He knew it was difficult to explain different shades of evil to a paladin; after all, they seemed to fear the grey. And nine out of ten times they would be right about the orcs.
The elf shrugs, unable to put to words exactly what he means. It seemed the recent encounter with the majestic dragon had cast a shadow over his mind. He'd sleep it off, he promises himself.

07-24-2002, 04:07 PM	#7
Legolas Jack Burton Join Date: March 31, 2001 Location: The zephyr lands beneath the brine. Age: 40 Posts: 5,459	Legolas Becoming aware of his face showing his emotions so plainly, he quickly gathers them and puts them away. He thought he didn't usually do so, but he also knows how he can't hide his smile when he's near Sorsha. That woman definately brought his defences down. He smiles at the mental image of Sorsha, by herself, battering down a castle wall with her mace. Then he puts that, too, behind his elven face and turns more serious, even sounding almost sad at times. "You have the right of it. It was a long time ago. All elves were thought purehearted once, but you need only dig far enough to find evidence it's otherwise now. All races have been plagued by a sense of individuality. In a way, they have been corrupted, corrupted by humans. Given enough time and contact, mankind has that effect on all races, save perhaps the undead. Then, the undead consist in part of former humans, so I suppose they too have been affected. The orcs are no longer as mindless as before, orcs. Still mostly evil, but no longer just following the strongest orc and charging after him. More and more orcs are burdened with a sense of honour, twisted as it may seem to us. Is it not true that in the past orcs simply raided villages and fought armies relentlessly, whereas now they can be bargained with? Aside from a rare raid here and there, the larger tribes don't do wars anymore. Paladins and rangers would not be out adventuring as we do if orcs were pure evil. There simply wouldn't be time. Your colleague seems to be judging all the orc race by the tales of his nanny and probably a handful of experiences with the more savage ones. Although he might be right in this case, there's no way for him to be sure. The orcs could have good reasons for taking the people, to ensure their own safety or even protect these people from another threat. I think I've seen Blandamour in enough action to fear he'll let himself be led by prejudice." He'd wanted to add a comment on how he didn't go around killing humans just because one might have picked his pocket once, but thinks better of it. He knew it was difficult to explain different shades of evil to a paladin; after all, they seemed to fear the grey. And nine out of ten times they would be right about the orcs. The elf shrugs, unable to put to words exactly what he means. It seemed the recent encounter with the majestic dragon had cast a shadow over his mind. He'd sleep it off, he promises himself.