Parable of Reiana

In the early years of the Vontian Empire, when its banners first began to stretch across the lands of Vollis, there lived a warrior of renown named Reiana. She was a member of the Imperial Guard, a sentinel whose blade had tasted the blood of many foes by order of command. Her name was spoken with reverence among the ranks, for she was known not only for her skill in battle but for the unwavering sense of justice that guided her hand. Yet, it was this very sense of justice that led her to a fatal mistake—a mistake that would be sung by bards for centuries to come.

The tale begins with Reiana and her men patrolling the western territories. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows as they moved through the rugged countryside of Vollis. Their patrol took them to a small village, nestled among the hills—a place of peace and simplicity, far removed from typical threats but still not safe.

As they neared the village, the sound of battle reached their ears. The guttural cries of orcs echoed through the trees, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke. Without hesitation, Reiana led her men into the fray, her sword flashing like lightning as she cut down the marauders. The orcs were fierce and brutal, their eyes burning with hatred, but Reiana and her men were relentless, and soon the tide of battle turned in their favor.

Yet, amid the carnage, Reiana’s gaze fell upon a figure that gave her pause. Among the fallen, she saw a young orc, barely more than a child, cowering behind a heap of bodies. Its eyes were wide with fear, and in that moment, it was not a monster that she saw, but a creature of flesh and blood, vulnerable and afraid. Her heart wavered, and the justice she had so often wielded like a blade was tempered by a pang of mercy.

"Spare it," she commanded, her voice cutting through the din of battle. Her men, bloodied and weary, looked at her with disbelief, for they had seen what mercy could cost. One of her guardsmen, a grizzled veteran named Maric, stepped forward, his voice low and urgent.

"Reiana, this is folly. The orc may be young, but it will grow. It will remember this day and return with vengeance in its heart. We must end it now."

But Reiana was resolute. "No," she said. "We are not monsters. We do not kill out of fear. Let it go, and perhaps it will find a different path."

Reluctantly, her men obeyed, and the young orc was spared. It fled into the woods, disappearing into the shadows, and the village was saved—or so it seemed.

Night fell, and with it came a stillness that belied the danger lurking just beyond the firelight. As Reiana and her men slept, the orcs returned. Not as marauders but as assassins, silent and deadly. The young orc, now driven by a burning hatred, led them back to the village. They struck with the ferocity of a storm, cutting down the guardsmen as they slept, their throats slit before they could even reach for their weapons. These orcs were not of the same appearance of the young one, but obviously chose to capitalize on Reiana's ignorance.

Reiana awoke to the sound of death—a gurgling, choking sound that filled the air as her men were slaughtered around her. She fought valiantly, but it was in vain. The orcs overwhelmed her, and the young orc she had spared was the one to deliver the final blow. As she lay dying, her blood staining the earth, she understood the terrible cost of her mercy.

The village fell that night, its people massacred in their beds, and by dawn, there was nothing left but ash and bones. Maric, wounded but alive, managed to escape the slaughter. He carried with him the tale of Reiana's mercy and the doom it had brought upon them all.

To this day, in the barracks and the camps, among soldiers and mercenaries, the tale of Reiana is told as a warning. Her name is invoked not with reverence but with caution, a reminder of the peril that lies in the heart of mercy.

And as the story concludes, there is always one final line, uttered with a grim finality that echoes in the minds of those who hear it: "Be not like Reiana."