Elidar, continued

"If I may ask, your mannerisms speak of a certain, how do we say, nobility in your blood."

"And yet,"

"And yet, your last name is indicative of being raised in an orphanage."

"Yes. I grew up in the Redson Orphanarium, in Prescul."

"You can read,"

"And write, should materials be provided."

"I'm not familiar with your region, but it is generally accepted locally that those who are raised as orphans are, to put it lightly, disadvantaged, especially when it comes to schooling."

"It is true in my region as well."

"Generally, if one desires to gain these skills, it is important for them to join a clergy or seek apprenticeship. Your record indicates neither of these things occurred."

"The record is accurate."

"So how are you able to read, and write? How is it you conduct yourself as nobility?"

"In short, you are seeking to understand why I am not gutter trash, a low-life thug who can aspire to little more than a weekly bath and the occasional hot meal."

"You are being crass."

"But not incorrect. You wish to know why I am better than my upbringing, and how it is that I am defying your expectations."

"Well... yes."

"Because I reject your expectations. I rejected the expectations of the clergy, who -in arrogance- demanded that I must show humility before I could be shown knowledge. I learned to read and write by seeking to know how. I learned how to conduct myself by watching those who did. I learned how to fight by fighting, and I learned how to survive by watching those who had already figured it out. It is amazing what the world presents you with if you just watch."

"Fascinating."

"Do you have any more questions?"

"Not at this time."

"So am I free to leave?"

"... No. Not just yet."

Elidar - Character Study

"In your own words, describe the incident on the third night of Orion, in the village square of Cannia"

"It was a fight. A good one. Eventually, we came out on top, which was fortunate as the Troll was a bit larger than us."

The interviewer sighs, scribbles a quick note. "Flippancy will get you nowhere, Mr. Redson. Now, you mention a Troll. Where did it come from?"

"Troll-land. I guess. I don't know, I was in the bar when the fighting started."

"Did it start in the bar?"

"No, it was outside."

"So when you went out-"

"I didn't go out."

"Eventually, you did."

"Yes. I finished my drink first. Then Yuri-"

"Yuristan the Brave? The Bard of Pandolina"

"Sure. Yuri was shouting for me. Said I had to come help."

"What was Yuri's involvement in the incident."

"I don't think he was involved at all, other than witnessing it."

"Some have said that Yuri was, shall we say, indecent with the daughter of an Elven Diplomat."

"Yuri himself said that."

"And..."

"Yuri says a lot of things."

"None the less, it is clear from our reports that the Elven Diplomat may have been the one to unleash the Troll."

"I suppose."

"What do you believe?"

"I don't bother."

"But if you had to guess..."

"Do I?"

"No."

"Then I won't speculate. I was in the bar drinking when Yuri called me. I finished my drink, then headed out."

"And what did you see?"

"The Troll was standing by the fountain in the square. He seemed upset. I saw two people injured, one who may have been dead. Everyone was scared, but the town guards had not yet arrived."

"And the Troll?"

"Seemed ugly and mad, but I don't know how Trolls are supposed to seem. It may have been that he was having a great time. He had fence post in his hand that he was waving over his head, screaming."

"Now reports say that you got between the Troll and the people, kept its focus on you while the town guard showed up."

"Alright."

"Was that, in your estimation, a fair summary?"

"Not really."

"What were you trying to do, then?"

"I wanted to kill it."

"Why?"

"I've never killed a Troll before. Seemed like a challenge."