Want to be a Hero?, Friday, 4th Period

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara had her students meet her at the same spot in front of the preserve where she'd held class the first week.

"Calling yourself a hero, means that sometimes you need to be the bigger person," she said, without much preamble "Sometimes this means making alliances with people you consider enemies, or giving people who've done you wrong a second chance. Sometimes this means behaving in what most people would consider to a dangerously naive and trusting way." Sometimes these options were exactly the same thing if you asked Cara, but that was one of the many reasons why she didn't consider herself heroic.

"So today, we're going to discuss what you'd do if presented with choices and why. If you feel your classmates are being either too harsh or too forgiving, feel free to press them on it. Try not to be too rude about it." That was her job.

Comments

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[not_every_mage]

"So they're guilty of murder," Anders said thoughtfully, teasing the situation apart. "Just not the murder -- or whatever -- they're charged with right then. Is there any chance it would come back to haunt me if I kill them?"

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara didn't know, she still wasn't entirely sure why Kahlan killed her. "Would it help your decision to know what they were charged with?"

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[not_every_mage]

Anders shrugged. "Certainly couldn't hurt," he said.

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[wrongkindofsith]

"Being a member of a group of people not particularly liked in that land." Which was one way of describing the Mord'Sith. "Amongst the village's specific grievances against the group is the taking of a dozen odd children over the years."

If Cara was being slightly vague, it was only because she wanted to see how deeply Anders was going to consider things, certainly not because she was picking words carefully to avoid giving away too much.

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[not_every_mage]

"But the person before me isn't really part of the group and didn't have anything to do with the kidnappings?" Anders checked, wanting to make sure he was following Cara correctly. "Then I won't kill him or her. Personal vengeance is one thing, but it's wrong to kill someone just because they're part of a minority. I wouldn't want to encourage the other people there in their feud in that way."

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[wrongkindofsith]

"They are a member of the group." Since he'd taken the high road, Cara almost felt bad about correcting him. "Which is enough for the villagers them responsible for the rest of the groups' actions. Justice by proxy as it were."

"As for their actual involvement in the kidnappings, they were one of the children."

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[not_every_mage]

"Justice by proxy." Like when all mages in a circle were punished because one mage had turned to blood magic. Anders was sparing Cara the lecture, but it was clear from his tone he didn't think much of the general idea.

More calmly, he continued, "And they almost certainly didn't choose to join the group to start with, unless they were by the side of the road with a 'kidnap me now' sign. I still have to spare them. I'll get vengeance for my family later."

Re: Scenario Two - WtbaH [06]

[wrongkindofsith]

Or he'd end up saving them when the family member came back from the dead and tried to get vengeance for themselves, leading to a great deal of awkwardness all around.

Cara's life was rather odd if she let herself think about it.