The Black Rose Annul
Ashalley
Today I begin the record of the Black Rose Company of Mercenaries. I am Ashalley, and it should be known to you by now if you can read this script that I am I’tel’gothrim, a wandering one.
Let me tell you a little something about being a mercenary.
No titles, no songs, and no stupid stories or false accolades. We’re what every knight order is, at the core; in short, we kill people for a living, win wars, trade blood for gold. The difference is that we make no apologies, and offer no rationality except the sound of coin on coin, which is, over the eons, what seems to motivate the entire human race and most other, lesser races.
Not something I agree with, personally; To believe the Rianians, whom I here refer to and distinguish as separate from my own people, but must acknowledge as misguided cousins at the very least, is to believe that power can be held through the facade of righteousness. It seems to be the case that, if you seem to be right, people follow you out of some sense of duty. If you ask my opinion, it’s a fool’s notion, else why would it be so easy to manipulate them into foolery? I am telling you now that to believe that the glimmer of righteousness will foster and grow on its own, isolated, without the nurturing and constant care of those sold upon the very lie is nothing short of idiocy. Isn’t the world, itself, as created, a place of the most base and uncompromising harshness? People - all beings, it seems - act initially from selfishness.
Your benevolent rulers will change the world? You could work for free, but it will still benefit you in the end. To cast in with them is to gamble and weigh the benefit, for you or yours, against the risk. Swallow that, for a moment. The difference between you, and us, is that we prefer to count our coins instead of betting them, like idiots.
I tend to think power is more ephemeral in nature, but whether the rich become rich through power, or the powerful, powerful through riches, is not a debate likely to end in my immortal lifetime.
It exists, that correlation – money’s power enough. Wasting time arguing the morality of immutable, observable fact most commonly ends in death.
I make no apologies. Neither should you. But, then, that is why I am writing this introduction; it is a forewarning.
Sometimes in this accord I will lie – blatantly – but then again, I cheat at many things. Cards. Love. Trust. In my many years I’ve killed, stolen, lied, whored, committed forgery, libel, slander, pimped, slaved, raped, and been raped, and been born again in blood and fire in steel. Therefore I shan’t mince words. This may never be read, and should it be read, perhaps you fools will sneer your noses some more and claim it heresy or worse. See if we care! You scholars. Ratty bastards.
But I have your attention, at least.
Will look forward to more!