A Helping Hand [c]

[Eric]

I design not in word or talk
but in deed and truth

When one thought of nobility, it was normal to think regalia, the image of class, maybe throw in a curtsy while we're at it.  Nobility were expected to spend their days reading, writing, accounting, delegating work to other people, or simply garnering as much support among other nobility to lay claim to the title Exalt. This was not Eric.  While everyone was fighting over leading a nation the people who really mattered were finding it harder and harder to cope.  There was no way he could turn a blind eye to the suffering of the people he was supposed to be protecting.  The young lord was dressed in old clothes any farm-hand would wear if one was to work.  Why?  It certainly wasn't a fashion sense.  His shirt had a v of sweat as he plowed the earth, tilling the ground so new seed could be planted.  Such was the way of the world, to work hard so that one could provide food for his family.  Though he was only helping for the day to relieve the elder man who he'd witnessed injured during an attack on his farm.  The young man was returning from his routine patrol on the Plegian borders of the Eldrich dukedom-- the assault on Halebend having ended recently.  It was here he had seen the man on the ground having been beaten.  It was worrisome, that criminal activity would skyrocket to such proportions without an exalt.

Eric stood straight admiring his work, an arm grazed the gash on his side.  The wound had healed, but he could still feel something off with his body.  The man's wife came out from the old home off in the distance carrying a pitcher of water.  She gave it to Eric who wholeheartedly drank as she spoke to him.  "It's no trouble at all for me or my men to be helping.  It's the least we could do, we made good time coming back-- it's a good break from our normal affairs."  One of the soldiers under Eric's command joked about never having a day off with the young lordling in charge-- something the other men found humorous as well.  In truth, it was impressive what area this family was managing with only the few of them.  Eric's task-force may not have as much experience with this sort of work, but their numbers would allowing them to make good time.  Eric didn't care he wasn't being payed for this, the family he was helping made only a fraction of what his family did-- but the smile on the woman's face... "If only there were more people who would put aside their egos and take a look around them.  Perhaps then there would be less suffering...

Tags: Oliver
Comments: Let's get our Harvest Moon on yo!

[Oliver]

Eric

And here we come across the Oliver in his natural environment. While the boy wanted most of all to be a brave, dashing hero, he knew half the importance of heroism was doing good acts for others and helping others no matter how large or small the deed was. Especially farming: his upbringing had taught him that farmwork was one of the most tiring, stressful, and yet strangely rewarding professions in the entire world. For that reason, every time he stumbled across a new village helping them with their crops was one of the first things he did.

This time, of course, it seemed he wasn't alone. He first saw Eric's group as he poked his head out of the stables, having finally disposed of an annoyingly huge amount of manure. Sheesh, not even Old Bess made that much of the stuff! It somewhat irked the boy that his first impression with this large group would be smelling like cow pies, but he quickly remembered that this was another group aiding with farmwork. I mean, it's not like he was about to stroll up to an Exalt smelling like shit, right?

"Hello there! You all helping out too?" he asked, waving cheerfully and emerging from the stables to greet his fellow helping hands. He'd offer a handshake, but in the current circumstances that probably wasn't the best of ideas.

Hero isn't a noun
It's a verb