A Wyrmstalker's Thesis on the Treatment of Descendants

[rukio 8910]

Spoiler

Paladins and people with access to the Order of the Golden Lion's library would be able to read the missive. Not others :3

 

 

 

There are multiple types of darkspawn: Descendants who corrupt their souls, amalgamations of flesh or soul that is repurposed for dark works, and that which is otherworldly. As Paladins of Xan we learn of these, how to combat them, how they are made when applicable, how to cure them when we are able. Most every Paladin will have had these lessons at some point in time. 

 

What of mercy, what of redemption? How many Paladins are born to parents who led this life, how many Paladins seek to do good and live holy lives fighting that which offends their morals and mortality? Yet, how few are those who were once darkspawn that sought redemption among our ranks? Why are they few and why do those vampires we cure do the inevitable relapse into the communities that corrupted and tarnished their souls originally? 

 

These are pointless questions. It is a descendant’s nature to seek: Power, love, comfort, safety, community, the list goes on and on. We, as Paladins, often fail those we seek to protect and those we love are often failed by us as partners, friends, and parents. The age old saying is that you may be a good Paladin or a good parent, you cannot be both. Xan’s cause is an important one, but it is also an all-consuming cause. We may not be required to worship him, yet we honor and obey him as a loyal knight serves a just king. 

 

We serve one half of his title, Aengul of Guardianship and Order. We maintain Order by killing and hunting, we obey the creeds and aid no darkspawn. Yet do we guard the descendants? Do we comfort them when they suffer and struggle, do we treat those who are capable of redemption as normal descendants? Or do we scorn and shame them, thereby forcing them further into hiding among those who exalt the dark. 

 

Too often do the tales of Paladin cruelty spread through the descendant realms. Of babies burned in carts during the Inferi invasion, of vampires staked outside and left to burn, anguish, and lament for hours before being cleansed. What self respecting or loving descendant would think highly of our cause after being forced to experience those turmoils, and that’s without considering their families. The way Paladins treat and redeem the darkspawn who can be saved needs to change. We cannot save all, and putting undo trust in those who will betray is foolish, but they are set up for failure from the start.

 

The proposal to oust and scorn and massacre darkspawn and those who live on the edge of society has been suggested by plenty, especially those outside of the keep. What does massacring the innocent, those who will likely fall down a path of dark, achieve except to force them further into shame, hatred, and dark arts. Nephilim and other evils of this world often reach out to those on the cusp of society, those rejected who wish to shine and rise to something acknowledgeable. The way we treat these descendants must change for the better. We already fight an uphill battle against immortal beings, gloating that we continue to wage our wars in the afterlife. Why must we make it harder to do for those who will come after us once our candles are lit and the prayers with our names forgotten?

 

Reconsider the treatment of those at the frayed edges of society. Welcome them, nurture the good in them, and know if they turn on you that it was their choice, not the action of all other descendants. Redemption is as much the Lion's vision as the slaughter of evil and protection of the innocent are.

 

Aeolus of Khamees

[TeawithFrisket 2634]

Thus, awaken by the mere smell of horse shit- does the broken & injured shieldess look upon the sky, another morning another battle- another descendant dying in the corners and 'cusp' of society. Sofiele remembers this, and remembers- that no one wants to be saved sometimes as well. 

 

"I wonder how Vanessa and Valery are doing"

 

At somepoint, Sofiele will read this thesis in the library of the keep, if she were to be found or return to the keep. For now she had one more loose string to tie up. One more- maybe.

[NightcastorKitty 1209]

Awakened by yet another young paladin entering and leaving the library's confines, the White Haired Elder scratches at her messed up strands as she moves to stretch each limb a bit. Those golden irises focusing upon the interior of the area she arguably made a second 'room' in until it fell upon a new scripture left behind. A brow would then arch, the Former Keeper's body then sluggishly arising to venture forth and retrieve this freshly made tome. Cracks erupting from those wore out bones from literal centuries of the Duty she forever swore too. With a flick of her fingers, the pages began to turn. Each pause held for a moment as that tired gaze fell deeper into the contents of what was written. The ending then falling into sight, immediately closing the book that now would be placed back. A mumbling soon would follow. "A youngin' that speaks like the original ways. Perhaps there is hope yet for the future generations."