>>5955827Leopold was right. You’d spoken with everyone you needed to. The time had come to finally close the curtain on the Blackwings. As every eye in the company looked in your direction, you thought as to what sort of legacy you all managed to leave behind. Many of the victories that the Blackwings had earned would be ones that most people would never hear of. Your triumph over Anacharsis and Zahras would never reach the ears of the world. Nor would anyone believe that you’d managed to emerge victorious over an ancient Agarthan weapon of war back in Rusalka. So then, what would that legacy look like? How would the people of Fodlan remember the Blackwings?
>“…I suppose you all know we aren’t just here to celebrate.”The crowd responds with frenzied hollering, and the slamming of tankards on tables.
>“Tonight, will mark the final night we spend together as a company. As we near the end of our journey, I find myself wondering what people will say about us when they look back at everything we’ve done. What form will the legacy of the Blackwings take? As I mull over that very question, I believe there is no singular answer. Ask a soldier of Enbarr what he thought of the Blackwings, and he’ll tell you.” You heighten your voice, mimicking that of the fictitious person you reference. “They were devils! Fiends masquerading as humans! May the Goddess strike down every one of those bastards!”The crowd laughs, whistling and hollering as they recall the battle at the Imperial capital with pride. You wait for the noise to die down before you continue.
>“If you asked a pilgrim from Zanado what he thought of the Blackwings, he’d probably give you a frown.” You deepen your voice. “I was promised salvation, but those damn lousy Blackwings had to come and ruin it all! I hope they burn in hell!”You receive more applause and laughter from the crowd. Even when they clung to the coattails of your company, those pilgrims could not hide the disdain they had for you.
>“If you asked an Agarthan what he thought of the Blackwings…well…they wouldn’t be able to tell you. Because any Agarthan we encountered didn’t live long enough to voice their opinions.”At that moment, the tavern threatened to explode. Throughout everything, the Blackwings had never forgotten their true purpose. Though the enemy in front of them was not always clear, they knew they had been fighting against something far greater than any foe the Empire, Dukedom, or Orthodox Church could throw against them. Even if the full story of what occurred at Zanado would never get out, the people in this room all knew what you were talking about. They all knew what they had accomplished together, and the pride that they shared could not be shattered.
