“Ah, the Shield Hero. A man truly after my own heart. And one whose story is very similar to my own. Falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, banished, ostracized, the powers that be refusing to confess to their crimes or misdeeds. Several times they tried to kill him or steal his allies and companions. All the while the others of his rank... the so called ‘honorable heroes’ were selfish, arrogant, greedy, and refused to take responsibility for their actions nor did they ever stop to think of what those consequences could be and yet they were loved throughout the world. By rights he was owed more than a pound of flesh when those who stole him from his home, ruined his life, and almost turned him into a monster were finally brought to justice to face their crimes which were many. But he did not let them die. He opted instead to show them mercy. He did not want them to die, even though many in the kingdom at that point would have said that the princess and king surely deserved it. Granted what he gave them was a very heavy handed form of mercy, what with having their names legally changed to ‘trash’ and ‘bitch’ but he showed himself a man of honor and mercy. After he was accused of the crimes he was falsely accused of he was for the longest time the very monster they accused him of being, making their lie a self fulfilling prophecy. But love and support from his friends and loved ones saved him from that fate in the end. He became better and proved what I have always believed, there is no such thing as a lost cause. People can be saved and perhaps this experience will help the two disgraced royals at last gaze into the windows of their souls...and change for the better as well. Regardless, what the Shield Hero did that day was honorable and merciful. The two traits that a paladin should value above all else.”
