Role

Chapter 4

How quickly the years pass, even for an elf. How difficult it has been for me
to pen my continuing tale, for even I find these last five hundred years
incredible. I came away from the temple, out of the deepwilds, with a bitter
heart. It was never out of revenge for losing my sister to a path I
disapproved of.

It was that there was something so alluring, so magnetic that it would draw
souls to it like a moth to flame. Something that forsook strength of body,
strength of skill. And I have spent five hundred years of life trying to
expose the dangers of such a choice.

Convincing a society to give up what is so prevalent, so available seems, at
times, like asking a dwarf to give up his ale. And I very much have come to
believe that I could not affect change without commanding respect. I would
have sought the path of hardship, the path of the Anvil, even if I did not
wish to affect change on this life we share. And yet, it has made me
sharper, more solid, more true to myself.

I have hoped to live by example, even if the stubborn soul of the mountain
born does not appeal to all, my dedication to this life, this hardship, I can
only hope has swayed even one soul. Years, decades even, have passed without
thinking I have had any effect. Even being named drillmaster, becoming smith,
while marks of great pride for me - they do not prove I have changed this
world atall, and thus it has been difficult to continue this tale.

And yet, this day, I have reason for hope. And how it must rankle both my
ancestors and the kin of the mountain I have spent so much time among that I
find hope in a young goblin. And yet the earnestness of his words and
desires, listening to - and even seeing - the realization of the wizards
misplace in life was so very heartning.

And so I find the small things to gain strength from. I look for new blood
for the Huts, and I seek to instill upon them some of my values. I believe
you must comport yourself as a man worthy of respect, of one to leave an
impression on friend and foe alike, to truly make progress in this war. And
thus I teach the youth to command respect and leave an impression. And
perhaps, in doing so, I will gain some of the shaping I seek to do.