Board Thread:Lore Texts/@comment-34241117-20180203032632

I am a merchant of men. A mercenary at times. While everyone is battling between sides, serving either Gondor or Mordor, Saurons memory or the Gondor king, I am selling equipment to both sides. Armor for Rohan, spears for Gundabad, and food for the hobbits. I am both on everyone's side, and no-ones. This is the life I have chosen, and this is the life I would recommend to anyone. Sailing the seas and oceans on my trading ship, or riding my horse through the great deserts of Harad. I have been absolutely everywhere, where there is someone to trade with. I have no enemies, except perhaps bandits. Nasty little men, who unlike me, have no friends, apart from perhaps, their own kind. Thieves and murderers, but they are strong neither in blade nor brain. Life is good for me, not on anyone's side, and making more money and items than I gave away. But I catch myself thinking about the two warring sides a lot. I may get a pretty coin off of orcs and men alike, but it is sad. Both sides always killing, always at war. If I was to choose, which side would I be on? Strictly speaking, I choose either the good, or the bad side. But is there really that thin of a line? Both the Southrons and orcs serve Sauron, now deceased. But does that make them the same? Both the Rohirrim and the Elves fight for Gondor, but are they equal? Are they the same? No. Men and monsters, men and immortal beings. Worlds of difference. Yet, only two sides. The orcs, as horrible and atrocious as they seem, they are a force to be reckoned with. They are fast, strong, and resistant. You could not ask for a better fighting force, but still, repulsive. The rangers. Masters of bow and stealth, walking shadows, but still men. Men who live long, and age slowly, yet they still possess the weaknesses of normal men. The little folk of the Shire. Hobbits, the funny hairy halflings which live protected from war, and do not know how to raise a sword, much less use it. They are not as strong as orcs, nor as quick or as big as men and elves, but they have no greed. They feel no hate for living creatures, and live simply. They love peace, and if more people and creatures felt like that, this war would have been long over. Yet, here I am, my ship full of swords and crossbow bolts which will take many lives. How many will it take for this madness to finally end? I do not know. War is a useless thing. What are the orcs of Mordor trying to achieve? More land? Domination over Middle-earth? What will that bring them? What is the point? And the men of Gondor? What are they trying to achieve by wiping out races of creatures? I wonder if there are others who think about these sides like this. Which side will you choose? Strong or weak? Fast or slow? Violent or peaceful? Is there a right side? Which one? Why?  
 * 1) author:[Ironbeard the III]
 * 2) title:[Sides of Middle-earth]
 * 3) types:[Gondor, Mordor, Rohan, Shire, ]