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The Westgate Campaign Chronicles - serial
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<blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 7921994" data-attributes="member: 7015827"><p><strong>Campaign Chronicles: interlude from "R"</strong></p><p></p><p><em>In these first, blank pages of Part II of the Chronicles I shall put down some personal thoughts. I confess to very mixed feelings about what has occurred, in light of their later consequences. It is also evident that the seeds of future destruction have already been sown by some. This leads me to wonder: is character destiny? I say not, otherwise Judgement would be irrelevant, the world simply being a wind-up mechanism for Ao's enjoyment. The events of the Time of Troubles at least show that what the gods do matters, and by extension the chosen actions of their followers. An Order such as ours, that follows Kelemvor's rule, thus may have many duties to perform in the wider world. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>This time of reading and contemplation of the Chronicles is supposed to be the keystone in our preparation for life outside the monastery walls. Indeed, they offer many lessons on how the world actually works, instead of how we may wish it to. My own story is in essence the reverse of the expected of one in my position, already having had far too many experiences in the outside world before choosing to don the robes of a monk. This provides me with a - somewhat jaundiced? - perspective that I shall share with any who follow me in reading these pages. As in the first part of the Chronicles, I shall not reveal too much of what lies ahead, for any who perform a different sort of reading of the text.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The first book ended on a triumph: the party's defeat in battle of the lich Ashnakzeroth. This much at least is conventional storytelling, yet the winding and uncertain road to that particular victory - with death and the occasional folly making their appearances - leads me to believe that the Chronicles are a true reflection of events, rather than just a bard's tale. The main task still facing the party - how to deal with the lich's unique phylactery and its erstwhile follower Melissa - is not as straightforward as battling a monster. What eventually occurs does not fully put a line under the matter, it seems, although it is difficult to fully judge the situation. A certain lack of ruthlessness is evident, at the very least, which in my jaundiced view is the triumph of hope over experience. Is this for the best? Can an individual pass judgement on such things? I am humble enough, at least, to acknowledge that I do not have the answers to these questions.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>A painful lesson, reflected in these Chronicles, is that evil is a choice of many around us, in our cities and towns, as they go about their daily business. Murder, oppression and fear are more often the result of a midnight knock at the door by men seeking to enforce their will on the helpless, than of the employment of dark magics. The worst is when both are combined, empowering the evil natures of people to go beyond their normal constraints. The mission of the Order to fight abominations wherever they appear is therefore a noble one, which addresses the most urgent of threats to life and order in Faerun.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Should we focus solely on this greater threat and ignore the more mundane ones that arise? For those outside the Order, of course this is not the case, for whatever threatens home and hearth must be fought against. I would make the argument that the Order should be careful in taking on too much, however, as then our primary mission would suffer from the distraction. Brother Veran's choices, as will be seen, furnish a tragic example of this. His actions are perhaps not in vain, but I cannot say that they served the best interests of the Order. Some may find this judgement harsh, yet our foes will be even harsher with us, should we not marshal our full strength against them.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Further candid commentary on individuals and their actions I shall reserve for the margins of this tome, to place things in closer context.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Carlo-One, post: 7921994, member: 7015827"] [B]Campaign Chronicles: interlude from "R"[/B] [I]In these first, blank pages of Part II of the Chronicles I shall put down some personal thoughts. I confess to very mixed feelings about what has occurred, in light of their later consequences. It is also evident that the seeds of future destruction have already been sown by some. This leads me to wonder: is character destiny? I say not, otherwise Judgement would be irrelevant, the world simply being a wind-up mechanism for Ao's enjoyment. The events of the Time of Troubles at least show that what the gods do matters, and by extension the chosen actions of their followers. An Order such as ours, that follows Kelemvor's rule, thus may have many duties to perform in the wider world. This time of reading and contemplation of the Chronicles is supposed to be the keystone in our preparation for life outside the monastery walls. Indeed, they offer many lessons on how the world actually works, instead of how we may wish it to. My own story is in essence the reverse of the expected of one in my position, already having had far too many experiences in the outside world before choosing to don the robes of a monk. This provides me with a - somewhat jaundiced? - perspective that I shall share with any who follow me in reading these pages. As in the first part of the Chronicles, I shall not reveal too much of what lies ahead, for any who perform a different sort of reading of the text. The first book ended on a triumph: the party's defeat in battle of the lich Ashnakzeroth. This much at least is conventional storytelling, yet the winding and uncertain road to that particular victory - with death and the occasional folly making their appearances - leads me to believe that the Chronicles are a true reflection of events, rather than just a bard's tale. The main task still facing the party - how to deal with the lich's unique phylactery and its erstwhile follower Melissa - is not as straightforward as battling a monster. What eventually occurs does not fully put a line under the matter, it seems, although it is difficult to fully judge the situation. A certain lack of ruthlessness is evident, at the very least, which in my jaundiced view is the triumph of hope over experience. Is this for the best? Can an individual pass judgement on such things? I am humble enough, at least, to acknowledge that I do not have the answers to these questions. A painful lesson, reflected in these Chronicles, is that evil is a choice of many around us, in our cities and towns, as they go about their daily business. Murder, oppression and fear are more often the result of a midnight knock at the door by men seeking to enforce their will on the helpless, than of the employment of dark magics. The worst is when both are combined, empowering the evil natures of people to go beyond their normal constraints. The mission of the Order to fight abominations wherever they appear is therefore a noble one, which addresses the most urgent of threats to life and order in Faerun. Should we focus solely on this greater threat and ignore the more mundane ones that arise? For those outside the Order, of course this is not the case, for whatever threatens home and hearth must be fought against. I would make the argument that the Order should be careful in taking on too much, however, as then our primary mission would suffer from the distraction. Brother Veran's choices, as will be seen, furnish a tragic example of this. His actions are perhaps not in vain, but I cannot say that they served the best interests of the Order. Some may find this judgement harsh, yet our foes will be even harsher with us, should we not marshal our full strength against them. Further candid commentary on individuals and their actions I shall reserve for the margins of this tome, to place things in closer context.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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