Role

Chapter 1

My life is defined by incomparable dichotomy. Each day I live, I am faced with the very worst
that life on our world has to offer. I see friends die by the sword, I see undead abominations
walk the land, I see violence, cruelty, despair, murder, war, disease, poverty, and I am set
in the very midst of these things. It is true that I have chosen to stand within the brutal bonds
of war and violence, that perhaps others might not be forced to bear such a burden.

The war between good and evil, in this present time and age, is not one which requires
all living things to fight for their own existence. Farmers may still farm, tradesman may
still ply their trade, though they do so with one wary eye over their shoulder. And so
this war is fought by those who choose to fight it, whatever their motivations may be.

Each day I clean the blood from my sword, my armor, my hair, my face, my hands.

Yet this remains, this great dichotomy which is my life. For on the opposite side
of the coin I have known joy mortals only dream of in their best hours. Never
would I have thought my life to take the shape that it has. If I had been given
a glimpse of who I was to become in this present day five hundred years ago,
I would have laughed and thought it impossible. Impossible happiness. Impossible love.

I write this now, only one cycle of the sun and moon's dance away from the evening
of my wedding. My thoughts drift toward these two extremes that I live in, bloodshed
and everlasting love. Without the former, without Baerinika, I would have died long ago.

Despite the great sorrows I have known, I count myself blessed beyond all mortal men.