Role

Chapter 5

For many, war is fair and honorable and they are filled with courage until
they start losing. Of course it can not be fair for there to be victor. One
side will always have an advantage. I hear much talk of courage but only a
coward who holds the advantage challenges another with insults of cowardice.
Honor is something that often disappears the moment the fog of war descends.

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A Nexan horde has delivered to me a humiliating defeat and stripped me. This
was expected sooner or later. Though I can only blame myself for not noticing
something during the battle.

But their actions do much to reveal how I am breaking them. Only the weak
allow the enemy to shape them. And I do shape them. They give up their ideals
so easily, if I continue to press they will continue to weaken. They bend
easily and I will bend them until they break.

They have also revealed to me how little I care for the trinkets I wear.
These possessions mean nothing to me, it is only the defeat that fuels the
fire. I will gather new gear with ease, and it will come and go. And future
defeats will anger me equally.

They have also thrown down a challenge to me. They have done this hoping I
would falter. That I would not be able to recover. That I would fill with
anger and act irrationally. I am full of anger, but that was always there.

What they have done will change nothing that I do. Nothing. It only
strengthens my resolve and confirms what was suspected all along. That I am
winning. Each strike of the enemy tempers my resolve as the forge hammer does
steel.

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I have been named a mageslayer for a reason. It is not to change what I do.

Lady Iunna does seem to smile upon me as Lord Thror sleeps. I have been given
more than I ever hoped. The smallest gift from the Battle Lords is the
greatest honor.

There are more debts to collect. This time of reflection has passed.