Gile Fortesque

The Lies

• It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar.
• It had been Ideology such as this that would mark Gile's downfall. At one time the boy had only been a simple bard, and a damn good one at that. His performances at inns and taverns would attract the attention of many prestigious individuals. He was lost within the eyes of the crowd, boasting endless stories depicting himself as a brave hero; batting off armies single handedly, slaying vicious dragons, falling mad kings, if you were to ask the boy then there would surely be a tale for it. However one impressionable young fellow took a bit too much faith in the silver tongued bard's words. This lad was essentially the newfound ruler of the land Gile called home, and presented him the position of general in his army.
  
  He accepted with little hesitation, the position coming with the sort of wealth and glory most folk of his status could only ever dream of. Besides, his land had been in peace with neighboring territories for ages... or at least it had been. It seemed Gile wasn't the only one who stood to profit from the young lord's lack of experience or guidance, as an old rivaling kingdom marched forth to lay siege upon them. Gile was sent forth leading the majority of his city's healthy men, strapped with armor that barely allowed movement, and a sword in which was far beyond his strength to wield.
  
  The slaughter that their push forward was relentless. Without proper leadership the army under Gile scattered in the conflict, one man falling after another while the boy could do nothing but look on in horror. He was no warrior, and he was certainly no leader. He'd hardly been in a fight before, let alone at the epicenter of a war between rivaling powers. In an act of overwhelming cowardice, he fled the battlefield with his life, leaving all those that looked to him and his lies to their own devices.
  
  After some time wandering he'd found himself back home, or at the very least what remained of it. The crushing reality of his action's repercussions weighed heavily on his mind and soul. With seemingly little left in the world he took to wandering without direction, a shadow of his former self.