[OOC] The Nature of Demons: Virtue Bane.

[WarderDragon]

A passage from the Codex of Editable Wisdom that might shed light on the meaning of Virtuebane / Virtue Bane.

Daemons - The Codex of Editable Wisdom

Later, an outpouring of demons razed the hubristic city of Old Magincia, slaughtering its inhabitants in retribution their willful Pride. The details of what sparked this cataclysm is not exactly known, but its occurrence implies that the daemon race has some connection to or understanding of Virtue, given their approximate role as its enforcer, however harsh. During the events of Ultima IV and the Quest of the Avatar, daemons could still be found roaming the lands and dungeons of the newly-formed Britannia, often more willing to fight than to explain themselves. One, known as Virtuebane, however, explained to the Stranger his race's actions regarding the city's sins, claiming that pride had allowed the Magincians to fall under the domain of darkness.

This of course raises a number of Questions. Is Virtuebane an Evil Overlord in the vein of Sauron and Darth Vader? Or is he an Angel of Death; a punishment for the hubris of the Britannians and their Queen?

Perhaps the tale is not as Black and White as some would suggest.

Thoughts?

 

[Lore Denin (GL)]

And what is the hubris of a creature that would judge an entire people on his own perception of pride and extract the penalty of death for all found wanting?

Is it not Virtue Bane's own pride that justifies his killing of what he calls the prideful with no regard to the humble, innocent, and weak and the helpless who suffered the same fate for simple being in the way?

Pride is the anti virtue to humility but just as lying does not justify the removal of ones tongue neither does pride justify genocide of an entire people. Such judgments may only be made on an individual basis in proportion to the actions that pride induces, not the mere fact that one is prideful.

Virtue Bane must be stopped not because I believe him to suffer the same anti virtue he claims Magencia struggled but because his pride has induced action which has led to the genocide of an entire town and continues to endanger the lives of the innocent.

Lore Denin