A matter of right

Lucian , responding to the summon of Lord Haws, sat on the park bench as casual as he could manage. It was odd to be summonne to meet in the park just after sun set, yet Lucian did as his Lord commanded. This was to be a secret meeting, though it seemed slightly odd to Lucian to have to meet in secret on the Isle, they were both Champions of light, though it was not to us to wonder why just to do and die. He waiting. Lord Haws, his armor covered in a fine cloak, arrived and with out acknowldging Lucian sat a few feet form him on the bench.

This was too weird. Grayson thought to himself. This did not fit the stories he had been told of the Paladins of the Isle. Lucian just murdered that man while he had him mind controlled. Though he did immediately offer a beggar money. It just did not seem right. Grayson thought perhaps Lucian was being controlled or manipulated. For Lucian's sake, Grayson decided to spy. When Lucian went up to the park he followed. Slipping into shadows the best he could, he stalked through the night. Constantly touching the force and striving to be one with all around him he felt something strange -- people. People in the middle of a city was not strange, the fact they were following him and could only be felt not seen was. Thieves- on the Isle, following him following Lucian. Someone moving around in the shadows the the Isle was wrong, there would be no need for it. Grayson turned around and made his way out of the park. Though he had not learned what exactly Lucian was doing he had learned a great deal.

Lord Haws spoke not looking directly at Lucian. "The villan you saved the world from in Tradecity sent out several letters giving a skewed telling of the story to several people all of prominent influence through the world. We have already intercepted one and need you to get the others we know of. The three people are Jonathan Greyfoot in the Grey Havens, Jared in Assyria, and Lord Darkleaf in Jong. Go and collect them quickly."

Lucian looking to Lord Haws says, "Of course my Lord, we can not allow this lie to be spread not to Geneva's allies. Especially with Dragon appealling to the international community to see what we really are."

"There is another matter I would speak to you about. It involves Dragon. It is a very fortunate serendipity that you went to Dragon. A solid lasting war with the City State is what the world needs. The evil nest of villany that is Dragon has been tolerated by the Isle far too long. It is best if this war comes to fulfillment. With the whole of the world behind us we could finally crush Dragon and the demons and undead and thieves that harbor there. Far worse than the evil of men rest in Dragon."

"Sir, we are at war with the shadow. And that war I will fight till I die. But ... I just mean that there are good people in Dragon and while the large part maybe evil and selfish, there is good in there."

"If an infection is left long enough it destroys the body. Dragon is an infection. A poison stronger than that which nearly claimed your friend Vadellya. We can either limp along with the infection until it destroys us or it is too late to deal with it effectively. This is the best oppertunity we will have to bring a force strong enough to make this a quick war and as clean as one can be to delay is not only a flaw of tactics it is a sin. The gods do not just hold us accountable for what we do but what we do not do. All the wrong that evil does at least in part lays on teh shoulders of the good that did nothing. And if the good does nothing, is it really good? If we do nothing to destroy dragon are we really the bastin of light and truth? Lord Raquil is a master diplomat he will smooth things over and let us continue to limp along, that should not be allowed."

"But is not peace the greater path."

"Sometimes there is only a peace that can be found at the other side of war. And I that war must come I will fight it."

Lucian looks at the groun then pushing up on his knees stands, "And I. If you fight the shadow I fight with you."

"Then go."

Lucian walks down the path is back to Lord Haws. It did not seem right. How did the Isle pass judgement on the world? The moon outlined the and shillouted the cloaked Paladin when Lucian looked behind him just for a moment. For that moment, Captain Skyler Haws looked like some cloaked monster. A hole in the middle of the bright moon standing just above the lights of the city and just below the light of the stars.

Lucian turned his head and cursed himself for thinking such thoughts. Loyalty-to give allegiance to those the gods have trusted to lead you. That was a line paladins recited every day in training. Loyalty and the ability to work together was one of the key factors that allowed the light to fight the hordes of evil despite smaller numbers. Trust- Loyalty can not exist with out the confidence, reliance, and faith of those who lead and are led. That was another virtue the paladins reciepted every day. Lucian had decided to join the order on his own but the Isle had made him a captain, which means the gods had trusted him to lead. He deserved the faith and allegiance of all below him. If paladins could not trust paladins who could they trust. But he questioned Lord Raquils' judgement. Yet beyond all of that, what Captain Haws said made sense. Dragon was a force like Fu Mei that needed to be stopped.

Lucian thought that this was beyond him anyway, he had the world to travel and another mission to fulfill. The misson to gather the letters was much a mission much more clearly on the side of good. He could come back and war or peace would be decided. Though was that doing nothing?