Sir Auron Lightbringer walked off the ship that had brought him to Palanthas from Zaradene. The dock was busy this time of the day as ship after ship arrived with full cargo and on the other side of the dock ships left with new cargo onboard continuing the route assigned to them. He walked past the ships that were being unloaded, some had taken a beating on their voyages. The Dragonarmies pestered the logistics regularly and far too many ships had been lost due to their attacks. The White Maiden had one huge hole in her hull and red dragon's breath had burned most of her sails. Dead sailors were being carried from the ship as Auron walked past it. Fortunately for the survivors a silver dragon wing had been patrolling in the area and engaged the enemy. Some good news in the midst of all the bad.

In the city center Auron noticed how the war even affected the capital. Palanthas had been the crown jewel of Solamnia with its clean streets and respected citizens, but now the streets were littered with filth and there were beggars on every street's corner. Auron walked past a young boy who asked for some food with tears in his eyes. Although Auron didn't enjoy seeing the city in this state, he felt sorry for those begging on the streets, most of them had lost everything due to the war and had to beg in order to survive. He looked at the boy and gave him two steel coins.

"You can get some food with that, son." He said smiling and tapped the boy gently on the head.

"Thank you, sir knight." The boy answered with a smile and ran off.

The smile that Auron had produced on his lips for the boy weared off as the boy disappeared around the corner and a worried look replaced it as he looked at the dozens of similar orphans not to mention the hundreds of other beggars on the streets. With a silent sigh he continued his way towards the Knightly Order's keep. As he came closer to the keep he saw two Knights of the Crown standing over an old man, who was sitting on the street near the keep.

"Sir, I must insist that you leave now. Where is your pride, Solamnian? Begging for money... being dependent on others? That is pathetic!" The other one said and the other nodded.

Auron changed his path from going into the keep to the two knights and the old beggar.

"Excuse me, gentlemen!" He shouted as he walked up to them.

"Sir Lightbringer." Both the knights saluted. He was known by the knights stationed in Palanthas as not that many squires become Knights of the Sword, only the most meritorious ones get the honour.

"Did I hear correct when I heard you criticizing this man's pride?" Auron asked staring at the two knights intently.

"Well yes, but..." The other one started to explain, but then became silent as if having nothing to explain their actions.

"How would you feel if someone would publicly question your honour, your pride?" Auron continued.

"We didn't mean to-"

"Yet you did so. Our measure tells us to defend the people, to protect them. That does not mean only the enemy forces, but other threats as well. Ones like poverty, famine and diseases. One of the most important things that makes us different from our enemy is that we use our strength to help those in need. We do not judge those who are in that need. These people who are on these streets are misfortunate ones, who are in that need and it is our duty to help them, not pester them. These streets will be cleaned, but not by removing these beggars to another location, but by removing the need to beg. Am I understood?"

The two knights were clearly embarrassed, but both of them nodded quietly.

"Good. It is just as heroic to protect the people from diseases, poverty and famine here than protect them by fighting the enemy on the battlefields. The only thing that makes the battlefield seem like a place of more honour is your own pride and arrogance. You wish to be seen as a hero by others. It should be enough for a knight if you know yourself that you've done the right things and you can also trust that the Gods of Light will know of your actions. Now tell me, why were you pestering this old man?"

"The Regent Grandmaster ordered that the perimeter around the keep must be emptied of beggars." One of the knights answered.

"I see. Well, return to your posts. I will talk about this with the Regent Grandmaster." Auron said with an intense tone.

The two knights looked at each other. The Regent Grandmaster's order was superior to sir Lightbringer's one, but they both felt the authority of Auron as he stood in between them and the old beggar. They hesitated for a moment until...

"Yes, sir Lightbringer." They both said and saluted, leaving the beggar and returning to their guard posts at the keep.

Auron looked down at the beggar and gave him some steel coins and nodded.

"Do not worry, my friend. These dark times will come to an end..." As he walked away towards the keep he added the last word quietly so no one else would hear it. "...eventually."

He walked past the guards into the keep. He had a meeting with the Regent Grandmaster about a possible squire candidate for him to guide, but after the previous encounter Auron wanted to discuss another matter as well. It seemed that some in the Order had forgotten the duty of taking care of the civilian populace, something which was unacceptable. They need the knights help and that they shall receive.

OOC Note: Sorry for using this thread, it seemed proper though!
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Korik strode into the Keep in Palanthas, glancing to either side and then went upstairs and found the Grandmaster's office. And with that he left a note in the office.

To the Grandmaster or whoever it may concern,

Sir Korik Baliar of the Crown, that is who writes the letter. I am new to the order but, as I travel our held lands, from Portsmith to Palanthas, to Caergoth, Thelgaard Keep, and then to Good Bay as well, I see that all of these places have some means of proper defence and I believe it is time to begin construction of some kind of proper defense in the town of Good Bay. Not only will this allow our one hold in the Abanasinia, but it will fortify the town to allow proper growth for people. It allows regulation on a proper basis to take place.

I recommend this simply because Good Bay is also a prime spot for attack, and that has been proven in the past, and in the very recent past it was attacked once more. And though few men were lost, walls and better defenses would ensure just as few would be lost should an enemy send a proper attack force to the town.

I do hope you take my recommendation into consideration. My post is at the High Clerist Tower, if you are requiring a letter be sent to me.

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On leaving he spies a couple in the reception area argueing with the Deed Owner over payments on a home they purchased, saying they paid it but, the payment was of course not receieved. He approached and asked how much was needed and Korik emptied his pouch of steel with a smile, and it was the steel he had planned to use for lodging and supplies on his long journey to Caergoth.

With a shrug, he left the keep, and decided to do a few jobs in Palanthas helping out to earn a bit extra steel for his journey.