Kalin of High Rock
Faal Lun Vahdin
So. You're in a dank cave, bringing glorious battle to a nest of thieves and ne'er-do-wells. Sending heads clattering across the floor. Generally living up to your legend as the best to have ever lived. You raise your blood quenched blade above your head to finish off some lowly cut-purse when suddenly the little cur takes to his hands and knees and starts begging for his life.
We've all been there. "I yield! I submit!" they cry, or "Mercy! I can not best you!" and normally I'd strike them down with a hearty laugh. There is no mercy in this dojo! But lately I've been playing my redguard barbarian, Shian of Rihad. She who the Stormcloaks call Redwind. And I thought to myself. "Is this what she would do?".
Shian is a warrior, not a butcher. She has a warriors honor. Her blade is not for cutting the necks of chickens or hapless lambs. There is no glory in cutting down some boy, too frightened even to stand. Just as there's no glory in crushing a beetle under foot.
So I stayed her hand, sword held defensively. Burning amber eyes watching the groveling figure as he stumbled about. Once he had collected his sword and his courage, Shian gave him the honor of a warrior's death. Sending him to meet his gods on his feet, not on his knees.
And I think this will be my new policy, at least for this character. A warrior's code of ethics! I already had a standing policy not to use sneaking attacks or to murder anyone abed. (that one's funny, because how casual and slow the "getting out of bed" animation is. *Yawn*. A sword-wielding madwoman is in my bedroom. Best see what she wants. *stretch*). A warrior's code of conduct!
What do you do with kneelers and cowards? Cut them down as they clutch at your boots for mercy? Leave them until they're through wetting themselves?
We've all been there. "I yield! I submit!" they cry, or "Mercy! I can not best you!" and normally I'd strike them down with a hearty laugh. There is no mercy in this dojo! But lately I've been playing my redguard barbarian, Shian of Rihad. She who the Stormcloaks call Redwind. And I thought to myself. "Is this what she would do?".
Shian is a warrior, not a butcher. She has a warriors honor. Her blade is not for cutting the necks of chickens or hapless lambs. There is no glory in cutting down some boy, too frightened even to stand. Just as there's no glory in crushing a beetle under foot.
So I stayed her hand, sword held defensively. Burning amber eyes watching the groveling figure as he stumbled about. Once he had collected his sword and his courage, Shian gave him the honor of a warrior's death. Sending him to meet his gods on his feet, not on his knees.
And I think this will be my new policy, at least for this character. A warrior's code of ethics! I already had a standing policy not to use sneaking attacks or to murder anyone abed. (that one's funny, because how casual and slow the "getting out of bed" animation is. *Yawn*. A sword-wielding madwoman is in my bedroom. Best see what she wants. *stretch*). A warrior's code of conduct!
What do you do with kneelers and cowards? Cut them down as they clutch at your boots for mercy? Leave them until they're through wetting themselves?