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[fromthevoid]

[he didn't need an explanation of this place, he had already read everything, sought out answers... and he had a good idea he was already trapped. how fascinating, it was just like a place from the void, like it shouldn't even exist. he had already had plans to burn all of albion to the ground... but here? here he could start over, do just that, and keep up with the cycle.

but first, he didn't want to arouse too much suspicion. he wanted to know who would eventually follow him, bow down to him, and who would he have to kill in time. so, he offered everyone a question.]

What do you think makes up a proper "hero"?

[his voice was low and inhuman.] I have seen good heroes, and I have seen evil ones. So that also begs the question- can a hero be evil?

[ooc: don't forget to fill out his permission post!]

Comments

[youfool]

[Oh hi there, stranger. You'll learn quickly not to ask opinions of dorks] Not according to my dictionary, anyway! *ahem*: "A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities". And, going further, "Noble: of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence."

Huh, well that's a surprise. I suppose, if one were to be strictly netural, then one could have a bad "hero", though it would sound like raving nonsense.

[fromthevoid]

A man.... you say? Interesting, for I've known plenty of women left and right that have been declared heroes. I did not think such an honor was reserved for only a select few men.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and to think of one as bad....? I have a hard time believing it to be nonsense.

[youfool]

Just a quirk of the grammar. Our greatest linguists haven't yet come up with a good, gender-neutral pronoun, so he is the default. Though, in its defense, the qualities of heroes, or at least the nonsensical ones like honor and romance, do seem to reside most heavily in men.

I suppose this may be my own local prejudice, but I've read plenty of stories about heroes, and all of them are about righteous ones. When they are not, they're typically called "villains."

[fromthevoid]

Ah I see. Perhaps I should have brought a few tales for you to read.. have you ever heard of a place called Albion?

It even has its own guild full of heroes.

[youfool]

[Careful there, Jack. You're talking to a curious man; once you get him going, he'll never stop bugging you.]

Wouldn't that be wonderful, if we were at least allowed some luggage! *laugh*. Well, I'll have to content myself with whatever you've left in your brain. Though, I confess I'm not much interested in hearing about naughty heroes, whatever that means.

A whole guild? That sounds very...official? Bizarre, anyway. The very title "hero" is an honorific, and usually postmortem. That sounds like having a guild of distinguished writers, or a society of really fine fellows. What conceit! *laugh*

Aside from putting the cart before the horse, what else is very distinguishing about Albion?

[fromthevoid]

[jack has already deemed this man a fool, and he hopes he has some better qualities.]

Why... everything. Such a lively place, full of fresh faces and people... and they strive hard, day to day, to merely survive. It is why they desire heroes, why they need them- and any sort will do.

Good, evil... they all come from the Guild.

[youfool]

I'm not following. Why should a struggle for survival necessitate heroes, good or ill? Boredom, the eternal yearning of the human spirit, bards needing things to sing about, those create holes for heroes to fill.

Compliments to your Guild for somehow keeping such diametrically opposed forces in the same house without bloodshed. That's quite the balancing act.

[fromthevoid]

Humans tend to be greedy... as I've had the unfortunate time of finding out. Yet you have asked why Albion is unique, and I have given you your answer.

They are rather open, I have found out. However.... when did I ever say there was no blood...?

Oh yes, there was blood, tons of it. And even to this day, it spills freely out of the grounds of the Guild. How fascinating.

[youfool]

Goodness. That Guild must be a madhouse! I suppose one would have to be heroic to abide such a place.

Are you saying that people wish for heroes merely for treasure? [Much less romantic than he'd hoped.]

[fromthevoid]

Treasure, protection, entertainment.... yes, all of it. They adore it, they crave the stories rich with crimson blood the most.

Why, that was even the case when the Arena was founded. Watching heroes fight to the death in the ring, they loved it.

[youfool]

[Ted considered the idea that maybe this particular representative of Albion wasn't being totally objective, and doing what we all do: emphasizing the parts we like best. If that was the case...]

Albion has a particular love of violence and gore then, I take it.

I'm curious, what was the nature of their gods? Their religion? That, I find, is the most telling element of any people.

[rulerofme]

What makes up a proper hero is someone who is willing enough to protect and give their life for another if they have to. Someone that protects those that can't protect themselves and don't expect gratitude for it.

If someone is evil, then they are no longer a hero. They are a villain.

[fromthevoid]

Gods....? Hm, they have plenty they worship, but hardly any that actually exist.

[youfool]

[pagans, eh? That would explain their appalling love of violence]

Hardly any, eh? Which one does, then?

[fromthevoid]

They mostly worshiped Archon. But as for actual gods.... perhaps those from The Court were most suited to that title.

Enough about Albion, where are you from?

[fromthevoid]

What if what they had to do in order to save another is what would be called 'evil' in the eyes of others?

[rulerofme]

Give me an example.

[youfool]

[That's cold, bro. Not telling him about The Court.]

A planet called "Earth". The most common place by far, and it's lovely enough to deserve it.

[Ted's a little uncomfortable saying more about it. Partly because he doubts whether he could do it justice, partly because some secrets are worth guarding, no matter how slim this fellow's chances at uncovering them.]

[fromthevoid]

A son is told to do whatever he could to get money for his dying family. He is faced with a choice... kill the trader and get more gold from the bandits, or let the trader go and only get a small amount of gold to barely support them all.

Is it still evil to kill the trader...? I wonder.

[fromthevoid]

The most common? You mean... people here are mostly from there?

[rulerofme]

Yeah, killing the trader would be considered an evil action.

[youfool]

Yes. More an impression, but despite our varied origins, many of us share similar histories, mannerisms, and bodies. Humans, I mean. I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise; Earth is special, to put it mildly.

[Video]

[bigbadvigilante]

The heroes the guy who beats up the bad guys, duh.

[devil_within]

One word: power.

In my world, butchers have been hailed as heroes. "To the victor goes the spoils, and the pen of history."

It all boils down to power.

[helpyhelperton]

[Can a hero be--? Are you crazy, mister?!]

No. [She folds her arms, shaking her head with all the academic authority a tiny fifteen year old girl can muster.] A hero is somebody who does the right thing and protects and helps people. There's no way somebody like that could be evil.

[Bam. Final point. Debate over, man.]