NOVEL FROG Chapter 724 – The Value of Honesty
“Even now I regularly visit the orcs in the north every decade or so and stay with them for a season or two. It’s just refreshing to have a break from all the plotting and dishonesty that has become so ingrained into the so-called society of the world these days.” - Aswinder Levian, unliving scholar, philosopher, and long-time retainer to the Republic of Caroma, circa 662 FP.
“I see why you like these people so much, Aunt Aideen,” said Áine a week later. By that point the orcish clan’s caravan was only two to three days from their usual summer spot, and the enthusiasm within the clan was contagious.
“Oh? Which part clued you in?” asked Aideen back. She was lying down on the broad back of a seven-horned lizard the clan had domesticated and used as a beast of burden to pull their wagons. There were several such beasts in the clan’s entourage, many of which were raised from hatching amongst the orcs and doubled as a source of food from the eggs they laid.
After all, such creatures would regularly lay eggs, regardless of whether they were fertilized or not, not unlike chickens which were kept for their eggs, in a way. Since each of the eggs they laid were easily the size of an orc’s head or larger, just one of them was enough food for a good dozen orcs or so for a day, which made them a valuable asset to the clan on top of everything.
“The way these people wear their feelings out in the open. They’re so… unlike most people. Most people would conceal or hide some things, even if they were mostly honest, but these folks… duplicity never even crossed their mind at all. It’s like they have no idea how to be other than just being themselves,” explained Áine after some thinking to arrange her words properly. “It’s a very refreshing experience to live amongst such people.”
“Right, you got it in one, I see. Not unexpected coming out of you. You were always the smartest one of the bunch,” said Aideen with a smile from her resting spot. It was not that she was tired or anything, but sometimes it was nice to just relax and enjoy things when there was nothing for her to do in person, anyway. “Do you know that these folks don’t even have a word for dishonesty? They have a word that encompassed many kinds of undesired behavior including dishonesty, but no specific word for it itself.”
“That’s new to me. Didn’t the southern orcs have one in their language? What was it again… ah, right, A’gurtak?” questioned Áine.
“It’s likely from the same roots. The word they use to describe all behavior that they considered not orc-like here is Rav’geur. Dishonesty, cowardice, arrogance, and many others are all lumped into that one term,” answered Aideen to her grand-niece’s question. “They have a philosophy that life is a battle, and the opponent that one must defeat first and foremost is themselves. Only by defeating their own worst thoughts and desires could one be at their best selves.”
“Not a bad mindset to have. In fact, it would be nice if more people think that way,” said Áine with a shake of her head. “I’ve seen far too many who portray themselves as good people but turn out to be rotten inside, so it’s nice to see people who actually proudly show their true selves to the world around them,” she added. “That said, how does their philosophy work out with those who are less than perfect?”
“They see nothing wrong with it. Nobody is perfect, and to embrace one’s flaws and openly admit their lackings is seen as a sign of strength here. It would be better if one could overcome them, of course, but just owning up to it is already a step up than many people elsewhere who could never consider their own faults, no?”
“Fair point.”
“That said, just because they are honest does not mean they are foolish either. You’ve heard of the battles between them and the Empire, no? They did not win those by sheer power alone,” said Aideen. “Being dishonest to their own people is considered not orc-like behavior. Those like us, that they welcome as their guests, or those who ended up joining the clans, are considered the same as fellow orcs in this matter. Enemies that are not of the clans, on the other hand, are not. There is no honor lost to use cunning to defeat an enemy while sparing your own people.”
“Smart of them,” said Áine with a nod of understanding. “Honestly, knowing how often people even in the Lichdom sometimes say good things to your face only to mock you behind your backs, the way these people are so straightforward with one another certainly makes for a breeze of fresh air. It makes me envy them somewhat, even.”
“I’m guessing you get the feel of these folks after that show yesterday, eh?”
“That is one of several that made me realize how they truly show their true selves to the world, yes,” said Áine. “It’s not like we see someone admit that they are jealous about another man’s popularity amongst the women to their face and ask openly for their secrets!” she added with a giggle. “Much less for the other to answer equally honestly at that!”
The event Áine mentioned happened just the day before when one of the younger male orcs said as much to Juuka. Orcs in general did not put much value into appearances. What they considered attractive were instead more practical things, like someone’s skill as a hunter or warrior, or what benefits they would bring to the tribe otherwise.
Where those who hunted or fought were viewed by their skill and capabilities in the field, those who were wise were viewed based on their knowledge, and similarly those skilled in other fields were viewed by their capabilities in their respective fields. What Juuka suggested to the other orc was to learn new skills since the other admitted that he couldn’t seem to improve any further as he was. Those skilled in multiple fields were viewed accordingly, rather than just as part of their capabilities.
