If you really think about it....all the guards in the holds are all the failed characters that took an arrow to the knee.

I never even understood that. They took an arrow to the knee? They got shot in the knee by an arrow? They cant adventure but they can pull guard duty and be on there feet (supported by there knees) all day long?

Maybe they decided to choose a less dangerous profession than adventuring. Just bumping one's knee can be painful. An arrow to the knee sounds excruciating.

but boy don't the complain about it? My cousin is out fighting dragons and i am stuck here... sort of thing.