The Just War

[51 Human Cfr] [ Knighthood ] Chretien de'Troyes, Weaponsmaster of the Order. *

[51 Human Pri] [ Knighthood ] Deacon Drithen Del Kaur, Squire to Gen. d'Aggravaine.

[51 Human Pal] [ Knighthood ] Valdaris Artaeus, Lieutenant of the Lance *

[51 Human Pri] [ Knighthood ] Bishop Caenarfon Corwen, High Clerist

[51 Human Pal] [ Knighthood ] Meroveus Greyhawk, Knight of the Shield:Guardian

[51 Human Arm] [ Knighthood ] Reginoldo Arminus Squire to de'Troyes

[51 Human Jng] [ Knighthood ] Datai d'Aggravaine, Songstress of Siccara (Lady Shield)

[51 Human Mtl] [ Knighthood ] Roupert Baine, Squire to Sir Shiroken *

You say 'In the spirit of Kadiya, I thought of a point of interest.'

Datai nods at you.

Roupert turns his attention to Caenarfon.

You say 'Kadiya, the Lord bless her divine soul, was the goddess of Peace. Something which Algoron has since lost.'

You say 'And here we are plunged in the middle of a renewed Godswar, only this time with a new Pretender.'

You say 'A Purist Kadiyan might suggest that peace is to be sought against all costs.'

Korivan turns, smiling as he departs, careful to keep his footsteps light.

Korivan walks south.

You say 'But as defenders of the faith of Good, we cannot be purist in our thinking, lest our enemies walk all over us.'

You say 'So in honor of Kadiya's Peace, I was thinking we might have a conversation around the premise of a 'Just war'.'

You say 'Under what circumstances is a war just, that it would require intervention?'

You say 'Say in the example of appeasement, when the enemy asks for more and more.'

Datai says (to You) 'I would say, when good people are being prevented from living good lives in peace and harmony, Father.'

You say 'Good cannot give all they have for the sake of peace if Evil will take advantage of our nature.'

You say 'If good dwarves in Thaxanos are being repressed, is it our duty to intervene?'

Datai ponders.

Datai says 'I would say the duty first falls on the Good Dwarves of Thaxanos to fight back.'

Datai says 'And if they need aid, then maybe so, if all of Thaxanos is falling to evil.'

You say 'Should they call for aid, and the Elves threaten war against us if we assist the dwarves?'

You say 'The web of intricacies can be complex.'

Datai says 'I don't see why they would. We would be fighting in a dwarven civil war in this circumstance, Father. So we'd be killing dwarves.'

Datai smiles wryly for a moment.

Datai says (to Valdaris) 'Hullo Suh'

Valdaris says in a deep voice (to Datai d'Aggravaine) 'Hello.'

Datai says (to Valdaris) 'Yah have walked into a discussion on what is a just war by the High Clerist.'

Valdaris says in a deep voice (to Datai d'Aggravaine) 'Sounds interesting.'

Meroveus nods sagely.

Datai looks to you.

Valdaris glances at the corpse and sighs.

You say 'Or in the case of that civil war, at what point does it become an issue for Good to intervene?'

You say 'For if we intervene first, then Evil will follows.'

You say 'Should Evil intervene in that war, then I would think it would be our duty to defend Good.'

You say 'What do you think of a pre-emptive war, where one side might strike another because it believes that they are about to be attacked?'

Meroveus says 'The alternative then, may be to allow the oppressive dwarves to snuff out the goodness, at which point Thaxanos may, in effect, become an evil Kingdom, and we are at war anyway.'

You say 'What would Kadiya say to that?'

Meroveus frowns in thought.

You say 'What is our remit as Knights of Gareth Keep?'

You say 'Our oath is to protect the Empire of Serpantol, and following, the Empire of Althainia.'

Datai says (to You) 'Pre-emptive war is kinda like one of those self fulfilling prophesies, Father.'

Datai says 'If we really really think we are going to be attacked, we just will have to build a better moat and see if they try it.'

Meroveus says 'So, defensive measures.'

Datai says 'Diplomacy, also. I hear it is handy for solving disputes.'

You say 'Evil is likely to take advantage.'

You say 'We are not coming from the same direction. It is in our interests to promote peace, Evil will prolong war.'

You say 'As it makes more misery and Evil from it.'

You say 'But long ago, we fought a war in Thalos, against the Triple alliance against all manner of Evil.'

You say 'And at great cost, we won.'

You say 'But when the new threat came, a non-aligned one from dae'Tok, our Order was smote into ruin.'

You say 'And for a long time, we had not the strength to be the defenders of Good. Serpantol destroyed, Althainia at risk.'

You say 'After that time it fell to the Marauders because we had not the strength to defend it.'

You say 'As this has shown, we extended ourselves too far, at the cost to Althainia, the subject of our Oath.'

You say 'Did our ancestors do the right thing, with a Just War?'

Datai says 'No one can see the future, Father.'

You say 'Agreed, but we have the benefit of hindsight.'

Datai says 'And maybe better to loose to the Yinn, who are not particuarlly good or evil, than let clearly evil forces sweep over the world.'

Meroveus says 'I suspect for us, the right choice is the right because of the conditions which fomented the choice, not the outcome.'

You smile at Meroveus.

Valdaris rubs his beard as he listens.

You say 'Our new paladin is clearly a Shield Knight.'

Meroveus tips his head forward slightly in respect to you.

Datai clans 'We are having a Kadiya Day celebration!'

You say (to Valdaris) 'That is he thinks before he wields his sword!'

Valdaris chuckles to himself.

Valdaris says in a deep voice (to You) 'One could only assume you're saying I don't?'

You say (to Valdaris) 'I didn't think it needed to be said Brother Valdaris.'

Drithen clans 'Matters beyond my control Ma'am, but you will see more of me, that I promise.'

You pat Valdaris on the back.

You say 'But you are right, I think Kadiya would have been pleased at the choice the Knights made.'

Datai says (to You) 'Father! Back to the discussion at hand!'

Datai nods at you.

You say 'To defend the Empire as per our oath against the Evil aggressors.'

Valdaris says in a deep voice 'I suppose you have to be a little barbaric when you're doing the real work.'

Valdaris grins.

Drithen ponders.

You say 'And dae'Tok did not sweep down and destroyed humankind as the Triple Alliance might have.'

Datai nods.

You say 'So Kadiya might have considered that a "Just War".'

Datai says 'Yah have walked into a discussion on what is a Just War by the High Clerist for Kadiya Day.'

Chretien nods once.

You say 'Any other thoughts of what a 'Just War' is from the newcomers before we move on?'

Chretien leans against his staff listening quietly.

You say 'We have discussed the pre-emptive war, a justification to attack if an Evil enemy is brewing.'

Valdaris says in a deep voice (to Chretien de'Troyes) 'Us Lance Knights may struggle to understand these concepts.'

Valdaris grins at Chretien.

Chretien nods at Valdaris.

You say 'We have discussed the war of appeasement, if we give more and more to Evil for the sake of peace, we will give so much that we will easily be conquered.'

You say 'We have discussed the civil war, and under what circumstances it has become our business.'

You say 'We have discussed our Oath, and understood our priorities for our limited ability to wage war.'

You say 'And we have considered our past, and the decisions our ancestors took as moral choices when faced with oppression.'

You say 'I wonder if Kadiya rest Her soul would agree with us.'

You say 'For we are Knights, Brothers.'

Meroveus tips his head in somber consideration.

You say 'And our prerogative is the protection of Good in peace.'

You say 'But we are the arm as well.'

You point at Valdaris.

You point at Chretien.

You say 'That smites those who would breach Kadiya's sacred peace.'

Chapel of Fallen Heroes

The archway from the temple opens up into a quiet chapel. Set far into

the interior of the Keep, the sounds of preparation and war are muted by

thick stone walls. Along the room are rows of torches that illuminate the

chapel with a soft, warm glow as they flicker slightly in the still air.

Heavy tapestries hang from the ceiling to the floor and provide the chapel

with a wealth of color and warmth. High on the north wall is a narrow

window opening encased in stained glass. Centered in the room is a stone

platform draped with finely woven white linen. Above the platform burns an

eternal flame, representative of the light of Nadrik's favored. The

flagstones are worn from the steps of the many Knights who came to the once

destroyed chapel for prayer and reflection, the stones recovered and

cleansed from the desecration that stood here. A plaque is embedded in the

stones.

[Exits: south ]

You hear the sounds of water gurgling over a stone-carved fountain.

A white orchid with deep red spots has been left here.

Here, in a place of honor, kneels the statue of Gunnar Draugrbane.

A gilded, golden ark rests upon the platform in the center of the room.

The corpse of Akasi is lying here.

Chretien de'Troyes is here.

Drithen is here.

Valdaris is here.

Meroveus is here.

Roupert is here.

Datai d'Aggravaine is here.

Meroveus nods gravely at you.

Drithen says softly 'But Honor is never served through Violence for its own sake, after all.'

Valdaris nods once.

Datai smiles gently at Drithen.

Drithen says softly 'The Wrath of the Light must always be tempered by Law, and by Honor.'

You say 'While we have strength in our arms, Evil should consider what we will do before committing their foul acts.'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

You nod at Datai.

You say 'Are there any other examples of a Just War, Brothers?'

Datai says (to You) 'Thank yah, Father, these are things we Knights must ponder. The paradox of how to fight for peace is an uneasy wire to walk at times.'

Valdaris says in a deep voice 'It is good to be refreshed upon our principals, thank you.'

Meroveus says 'And the Father raises an excellent point of consideration - before any war, would even Kadiya agree? If so, it is surely just.'

Datai smiles gently and nods at Meroveus in agreement.

You say 'I can go further with the words of Her priestess if you wish?'

Datai says (to You) 'Let us continue with the Service, Father.'

Caenarfon puts his arms into the folds of his robes.

Datai says 'Has anyone else prayer or song to share today?'

Chretien looks at you.