Roland and Heroism

From: Saravan Peacock <saravan_at_perth.DIALix.oz.au>
Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 11:56:49 +0800


>But who was the more heroic? Roland at Roncesvalles or Charlemagne hurrying
>back?

In my opinion Roland was a stupid son-of-a******###### (etc. etc) who thought he was just SOOOO great everyone else would have to pay with their lives for his effort as self-(and friend-)sacrificing grandeur. Instead of running away to get help to clobber the Moslems, he sat around with his mates and got them all slaughtered so Charles could come back and avenge him. Yeah, heroism is great... except for those around the hero. Say, it sounds a lot like Garrath/Argrath doesn't it? Who remembers all those friends of his (maybe many PCs included) who got slaughtered in the Cradle adventure?

Who are the real heroes? The ones who die gloriously, or the ones who live to found dynasties and build kingdoms? Both have their purposes and both are heroic. The one can't be famous without the other.


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