Chapter Three

Choices of Virtue

The next morning, having slept safely in separate rooms in Blue’s veritable castle, you discovered that Jack had woken up before anyone else and had been exercising and stretching. “I’m just warming up my muscles for the journey! It will keep me flexible and sharp!”

On the table near the door, Blue had left a small note along with provisions for the journey. You heard a slight snoring sound coming from his room.

Friends, please do not wake me - I enjoy my sleep! I’ve taken the liberty to put together some Orchid Leaf sandwiches for your journey. There’s also an Accelerate potion in the parcel as well. May your quest be successful, and you all return safely to your homes!

Collecting the items, you group up outside his house. “That way to the river!” pointed Jack, and you all set off at a jogging pace through the forest. From time to time you stopped to catch your breath or take a bite to eat to keep your strength up, but after an hour or so or hard slog (with a certain Human Transmuter always bringing up the rear) you reached the edge of the river. Then, whilst some rested against rocks and others crouched at the riverside for a drink, Jack’s eyes were scanning both sides of the bank for any signs. “I can’t see any signs here, we should push on down the river. With luck, we’ll stumble on a clue during the day. The light is good, but won’t last more than six hours.” A few minutes later, after a bite to eat, everyone set off again at a slower pace along the riverbank.

“To pass the time,” said Jack, “Let me tell you of a game I used to play with some friends. It’s called the Virtue Test.” Jack turned his head and half smiled at the adventurers behind him. “I will pose you a dilemma and you’ll have to tell me how you’d answer. Have you heard of it before?” Seeing the shakes of heads, Jack shrugged, “No matter. There are no wrong answers, as all the choices are virtuous. One of the rules we are taught early on in the Order is that indecision can be much worse than the wrong decision. Our eight virtues are Honour, Honesty, Spirituality, Humility, Sacrifice, Compassion, Valour and Justice. It is quite often a conflict of these virtues that we face.”

“Father Herman, you’ve been taught to preserve all life and treat it as sacred. How would you deal with a situation where a man lies fatally wounded by snake venom and pleads for mercy? Would you show him compassion and end his pain, or heed your belief and refuse and watch him die a painful death? Which grows stronger in you - your compassion or spirituality?”

Herman rubbed his chin and pondered the question. A moment later he dropped his pack to the ground and fumbled through its contents, pulling out two books. Flipping to a page towards the end of the book he muttered under his breath. A few “Hmmms,” then a “Maybe,” followed with a “Well I never!" Jack’s deadpan expression cracked ever so slightly into a smile as he watched the priest wrestle with the conundrum. After flicking through the second book and scratching his head, Herman sighed, "That's a great idea, doesn't help though." He put his books away and pulled his pack onto his shoulders. A step later, and suddenly his head collided with a low tree branch, sending him to the ground.

Erica couldn’t contain herself and burst into laughter whilst he picked himself up. Clearly unfazed by the whack, he said, “I've got it! It is true that we have been taught that life is sacred, however we have also been taught to make the best of bad situations. So I would pull out my holy scriptures on St. Cuthbert and pray for his guidance. If none were forthcoming then I'd pull out a tome entitled the Book of Vile Darkness. It will tell me how to capture the man's pain, which can be used as special spell component. It can be used in the defence of others, thus the man's pain wont be for nothing. It can also tell me how to extract the venom and combine it with arrows, which I can also use in the defence of others.”

Jack looked astounded – amazed - confused. Herman was so matter-of-fact. Ivan’s face was a picture too. Seeing the looks on his companion's faces Herman added, “Well at least he wouldn't have died for nothing and I fulfilled both my obligation to compassion and spirituality.”

Ivan slowly shook his head and asked in measured disbelieving tones, “Book of Vile Darkness? Book of Vile Darkness?!”

A moment passed, and then Herman threw his back and let rip with a hearty burst of guffawing. “A tease,” he explained after recovering, “I would not care to taint myself with such an evil tome.”

Jack’s expression melted into relief as he exhaled slowly. “Moving on then,” he continued, “Ivan, imagine you’re sworn to protect your Liege at any cost. Yet you know he's committed a crime. The Authorities ask you about it. Do you break your oath and speak honestly, or uphold honour by remaining silent? Is it honesty or your word of honour that you value more?”

“I would uphold my Honour of the oath I have made,” answered Ivan, clearly not one to answer whimsically.

“Fair enough,” Jack replied, “Erica, a question for you too. You and a friend are valiant but penniless warriors. Both of you slay a dragon and set out to claim the reward. Your friend says that he slew the dragon, but the killing blow came from you. Do you truthfully speak up and claim the gold, or allow your friend the reward? Your choice is between honesty and sacrifice.”

Erica briefly pulled a face and replied, “I think I would talk to my friend and come to a compromise whereby we would split the gold between us. I wouldn’t really care who claimed the killing blow.”

At first, Jack didn’t seem too impressed with Erica’s answer, but he soon acknowledged otherwise. “Your answer illustrates quite clearly the type of people you associate with, and further, the type of person who you would call friend.”

“Lastly, El-Shad. During a battle you see a fellow soldier desert his post endangering many. Several enemies set upon him. Would you justly let him fight alone, or abandon your own post and risk sacrificing your own life to aid him? Justice and Sacrifice are your options!”

El-Shad ran his fingers through his hair, then responded, “You have set a tough question, both courses of action have merit and both have unpleasant consequences. I believe that I would aid my comrade. For if he dies, he would have no opportunity to make right his wrong. However I would try to ensure that in helping him I did not abandon my own post, but organised my other comrades to 'stand in the gap'. Whether this is the answer you are seeking I know not, but it is my answer all the same.”

Jack briefly halted in his walk and turned to face El-Shad. “An excellent answer!”