"A good story," says Bughu, emotionless. "I also have one of failure, and it, too, involves a lad, younger than 15 by a season. He was a greenhorn, good eyes, but barely capable of pulling the string back on his bow.
"One day on winter patrol, he discovered a thief no older than himself, trying to break into the Duke's granary. He confronted this boy and was told that the thief was desperate for food, anything to stave off starvation for himself and his family in the cold season. The soldier took pity on this thief and averted his eyes to allow the lad to take as much as he needed; surely the Duke could spare a few sacks of barley and wheat.
"The failure came later. This 'thief' turned out to be an assassin. He poisoned the grains and spoiled the stores, weakening the military and those who relied on the food for winter. A rival attacked that dukedom the following spring, burning farmland and villages, and laying siege to the castle."
Bughu's face is stony. "Should the soldier have killed the thief? No. The thief should have been arrested and justice would determine his fate. Perhaps this thief really did have a starving family, or was forced to perform this act in order to save himself or a loved one. Perhaps the thief would have been executed for his crimes, justified or not; it is not the soldier's choice to decide. The soldier should have acted in accordance with his sworn duty, and in the context of his assigned task.
"In this regard, you are correct that each person has their own reasons for their actions. And perhaps everyone deserves a chance at redemption. But what determines righteousness? Who decides whether it is the soldier's story that deserves to be told, or the assassin's? Does the assassin deserve redemption after indirectly causing the death of hundreds? Does the soldier deserve redemption for the same? What about those that died, and the survivors that suffered?"
Bughu double-checks the security of his light crossbow before turning his attention to the tunnels beyond. "We can wax poetic until the Hells freeze, but for now we have a job to do. We must act in the context of our assignment, which is to secure the dragon's egg, and if we should happen to recover intelligence about the Cult's plans it would only be a bonus.
"You may talk to these cultists if you choose. I now see value in learning what we can from these cultists despite their ravings, so I will not stop you from speaking to whomever we come across. By that same token, you will not stay our hands from fulfilling our duty just so you can feel smug about righteousness and redemption. Are we clear?"