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Is pride a good thing?
I have often wondered this. So many of my accomplishments would never have happened if I had not maintained a very proud view of myself and of my skills. It is impossible to enter a mortal battle and emerge victorious if you go into it with low expectations of yourself. When I fight goblins or kobolds, I know that I will not lose. They know it too, and I believe it aids me in victory. But what of the negative aspects of pride?
Drow as a people are very proud. We are quite aware of the fear we inspire in others, and it not only gives us a measure of confidence, but also aids us in battle when our opponents lose heart. Could there be a negative side to this? Could an over-inflated image of oneself push you to destruction at the hands of a foe that you had no right to challenge?
Khazid'hea is perhaps the best example of this. The sentient sword has been passed on to many different users, and in almost every case, it has brought destruction to those who wield it. I have tried to do research into the creation of this magical weapon, but I have found little to tell me what I want to know. What I do know is the key to mastering the weapon is not to control it, but to control your own pride.
The sword has an ego that will always exceed anyone who wields it. It desires to be held by the most skilled warrior in existence, and will never be happy if it feels its current owner does not meet those criteria. Of course there is only one fighter in all the realms that can hold that title, and if you are not careful, Khazid'hea might convince you that you should be that warrior, or at least that you should seek him out.
I am not foolish enough to believe that there is no one in all the realms that can defeat me, but I am also not blind to my advanced skill. I enjoy being tested as to the limits of that skill. I will admit that my pride sometimes comes into play and forces me into battles that might not be necessary, but it is hard to deny my skill when victim after victim fall to my blades.
Will my pride be the end of me? Will I finally encounter an enemy that I can not defeat? I sincerely hope not, but I know that my hopes and desires count for little. The answer will come with time. For that, I can only wait.
-- Dantrag Baenre
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