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Robert Anthony Salvatore (b. January 20, 1959, Leominster, Massachusetts), who writes under the name R. A. Salvatore, is a fantasy author best known for The DemonWars Saga, his Forgotten Realms novels and the controversial Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novel Vector Prime.
I've had no problem finding his books at the local library!
I think you will enjoy reading this
As I learned more about the Church that Avelyn served- the Church of my parents and of every fellow human I have ever known- and as I met more of the Abellican monks, I began to recognize just how subtle the nature of evil might be. I had never spent time considering this before, but is th eevil man inherently evil? Is he even aware that his actions are evil? Does he believe them to be, or has he tainted his perspective so that he believes himself to be in the right?
In these times, when the dactyl awoke and the world knew chaos, many, it seems, have come to question the very essence of evil. Who am I, or who is anyone, they might say, to judge which man might be considered evil and which good? When I ask, is the evil man inherently evil, I am supposing an absolute distinction that many people refuse to acknowledge. Their concept of morality is relative, and while I'll admit that the moral implications of many actions might be dependent upon a certain situation, the overall moral distinction is not.
For within that truth, I know a larger one. I know that there is indeed an absolute difference between good and evil, with individual perspective and justification notwithstanding. To the Touel'alfar, the common good is the measuring stick- putting the good of the elven folk first, but considering the good of all others, as well. Though the elves desire little contact with humans, they have for centuries taken humans under their tutelage and trained them as rangers, not for any gains to Andur'Blough Inninness, for that place is beyond the influence of the rangers, but for the betterment of the world at large. The elven folk are not aggressors, never that. They fight when they must, in defense and against imperialism. Had the goblins not come to Dundalis, the elves would never have sought them out, for though they have no love of goblins or powries or giants, and indeed consider the three races to be a scourge upon the very world, the elves would suffer them to live. To go to the mountains and attack these monsters, by elven standards, would reduce the Touel'alfar to the level of that which they despise above all else.
Conversely, the powries and the goblins have shown themselves to be warring and wicked creatures. They attack whenever they find advantage, and it is little wonder that the demon dactyl sought out these rases for its minions. I tend to view the giants a bit differently, and wonder if they are, by nature, evil, or if they simply look at the world in a different way. A giant may look at a human and, like a hungry hunting cat, see its next meal. Still, as with powries and goblins, I feel no remorse in killing giants.
None at all.
Among the five races of Corona, then I consider the humans most shrouded in mystery. Some of the very best people in all the world- Brother Avelyn, as a prime example- were human, as were, and possibly are, some of the worst tyrants. In general, my own race is a goodly one, but not as predictable and disciplined as the Touel'alfar, certainly! Still, in temperment and general beliefs, we are much closer to the elves than to the other three races.
But those shades of gray...
Perhaps nowhere is the confusing concept of evil more evident than in the ranks of the Abellican Church, the accepted moral leader of the majority of humankind. Likely it is because this body has been entrusted with so high a standard, no less than to serve as the vanguard of human souls. An error in perspective among the Church leaders is a disastrous thing indeed, as Avelyn proved. To them he was a heretic, though in truth, I doubt there has ever been a man more godly, more charitable, more generous, more willing to sacrifice everything for the common good.
Perhaps the Father Abbot, who sent Brother Justice after Avelyn, can justify his actions- to himself, at least- by claiming them to be for the betterment of all. A master was killed in Avelyn's escape, after all, and Avelyn had no legal claim to the stones he took. But Father Abbot is wrong, I say, for though Avelyn might be technically labeled a thief, the stones were on his purely grounds. Having watched his work, even before he sacrificed himself to rid the world of the demon dactyl, I have no doubt of this.
The capacity of any individual to justify his or her actions will forever amaze me, I fear.
-Elbryan Wyndon
 Peace & Love from the Hippie Chic of the Watumelon Gang! Gweener · Wed Oct 17, 2007 @ 03:44am · 2 Comments |
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