In light of some of the recent occurrences I feel the need to give a reminder to everyone as one of Travance's Rangers. It's short, and simple, but rather important. Here it is; just because something is a natural creature or phenomenon does not mean that it is good, and that it is not highly dangerous to the community and should be dealt with as such. For those that this message was meant for, I respect that you hold the sanctity of life in such high regard, but you must aim to protect yourselves and your neighbors before that which seeks to harm it. Sort out your priorities for the sake of your loved ones.
- Amhrán
The way I first met the cat was through a young man and an elderly village seer. Her joints were likely tired-- aching from countless winters of serving her town in the humble but steady way her minor gifts would allow her to. It wasn't thankless- the town cared for her as she had cared for them. The young man took time out of his summer chores and reveries to help her walk across town at night. She was old and he wanted her to feel safe. When I found them they had been drained down to contracted husks. From the position of the bodies they likely didn't hear it coming, and were offered no quarter or relief from the onslaught as it tore the metaphysics from their tissue. They were 2 of 17 subjects this thing glutted itself upon. Subjects with privileges to life secured by the kingdom of Kormyre that some of us have vows to preserve. I tracked and battered this beast without quarter for 2 consecutive hunts. Pulled many Travancians- maybe even some of you- out of its teeth. Travancians, who more-then-not, quickly fled to warm, well lit hiding holes while the hunt continued for the rest of us. The final hunt ended when we shattered its leg and it narrowly limped off. It seemed ready to be done when vital duties pulled me away for what I hoped to be the final hunt of a crippled monster. These conservationist truisms will all be cold comfort to the first Quinarian your monster gluts itself upon, cold comfort to their families, and cold comfort to the creature itself, that simply eats and does not care for the petty moral posturing's of man. Dictated and Not Written, Magistrate Robert Tzaareth
Everyone's goals here are to preserve life, and that is very worthy, even if we hold different opinions on how to go about it. Let us engage in productive discourse, rather than flinging insults, that we may together find the best path forward.
By the way, the creature is still safely contained, and will remain so for quite some time. Time enough to explore reasonable options that end in the least possible harm.
- Lady Talaniel
We did what we thought was right. If you disagree, that's fine, but be there next time so we can fight about it properly instead of posturing on the boards afterwards.
- Mina
Many would-be naturalists have an idealized view of the wilds of Arawyn and its natural creatures.
Nature is not Light or Good. It is Order, certainly. But not the Order of civilization. The natural order of things is not kind or forgiving. It is a natural order characterized by death, violence, and the continual struggle to survive.
Yes, it is absolutely our responsibility to save and care for what creatures we can (and if you dare to hurt any of the creatures under my protection--reptilian, human, elven, goblinoid, or other--you will face my wrath). But at what point does condemning an animal to a life in a cage become a cruelty, and giving it a swift death become a mercy?
And will you take responsibility for the further deaths this creature will inflict upon the peoples of Quinaria should you set it free?
I am a druid of Arawyn and a Paladin of the Light. I am also a drake, an apex predator who requires meat to survive. I kill so that my lounge* and I may live. I do not kill for fun or malice, but as a matter of survival.
Unlike many of you who choose to consume meat and simply go to the market to retrieve a neatly wrapped paper package from the butcher, I do not forget where my meals come from. (Lady Talaniel and other vegetarians exempted, of course).
I do not judge anyone for what they consume, as long as it is not sapient nonconsenting beings. Or nothing at all--drink some damn water you dehydrated noodles. But I do judge those who have become so disconnected from the world around them that they forget their steak required the sacrifice of a living being to make.
For many years the natural order was disrupted by the hiding of Decay, preventing the cycle from being truly complete. Let us not again disrupt the cycle through ignorance, or the imposition of civilized ethics onto the natural world.
*i recognize this may be unfamiliar to many of you, but "lounge" is the proper term for a grouping of lizards!
If a wolf enters your village and kills your people, do you simply trap it and relocate it to a new place? No, you dispose of it swiftly as to not allow for any more of your people to die. Be smart about your choices when it comes to dealing with creatures. Think about what they have done to cause the confrontation you're in. Is removing the threat permanently a better option than relocation and endangering the lives of others somewhere else? -Ser Nesterin