The Old Code

 

The Old Code
When I was young, and all aislings great, we lived in Rucesion. My father worked at a smith shop and my mother took care of us four children. Day after day she worked, hard as ever, as she tried to raise boys into men. She gave us chores and made sure we did them correctly. After our chores, and supper, my father would return home. Sweat on his brow, and soot caked on his face, he was a weary man. Yet a brave hearted man indeed he would sit down after a day of hard work and speak to me about the warrior's path.

My other brothers showed no interest in such talks, and often laughed at me as they told me that I had wasted hours of my time listening to ramblings. My father was always into story telling, and many times told a fib or too, yet these wonderful lessons he would teach me would in the end help me prevent a lot of hardships.

The old code he would call it. He had heard it from a bard and a famous literary poet whom had given him a bent and charred scrapbook of various writings. Of all the topics, this one stuck out the most. My father believed it was one of the greatest writings in Temuair. One night, he decided to share it with me after I had completed a productive day of work. He decided to read it to me. It read:

A warrior is sworn to valor,
His heart knows only virtue.
His blade defends the helpless
His word speaks only truth.,
His Might Up holds the weak,
His Roth undoes the wicked.

This he taught me with all his heart, and when he had found out that I had wishes to follow the warrior's path, he help mentored me. The first lesson he taught me was not with a sword, yet with my own kind heart. He took me down to his shop and I helped the customers. It showed me that its not always easy dealing with people, and that some do get angry and try to make you mad when they don't get that they want. But I was to hold true, and stay on my noble path. After a week of work, he spoke.


"Joseph, you have know seen some of the most restless people in Temuair, and try to understand its not always easy working with strangers. But you must remember this like you know the old code. Never raise your blade in anger, never!


My father's words stuck, and the next weekend, we ventured to the eastern woodlands, right outside of Mileth. He had suited me with a leather tunic and a short dirk, which was rusting and corroded. It was all I had; yet it was enough to keep the hunt going. A friend of my fathers, Strange, had come along with us because we needed a priest to heal us when needed. After a while, I got my first kill. My first kill was mantis. My father weakened it for a while, and I went for the final kill. I was so happy, running around, screaming and shouting. Yet my father stopped me. After a grim look, my father spoke again, in a noble tone. He said:


"Joseph, always remember this day; this lesson I am about to teach you. Always have mercy for your enemies. Weather great or small. Never kill unless you know that they are pure evil."


And so I noted, keeping all three things in mind, we headed back to Rucesion. It was only to be another day or so before the fatal night where my mother was struck down by fleeing bandits raiding our home. When we moved to Mileth I continued my training with my mothers memory in hand.

When I moved out at age 16, I officially followed the warrior path, guided by Antha, and vowed to protect Mileth.


When my father died of loneliness, and the absence of Nando and me, I asked Nando to mentor me. He was and is a great rouge indeed and knows much about the warrior's path. So now under my brother, and my new founded beliefs, I strive to become better, for a greater tomorrow.


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