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Mazian Arody
Hedion University Amarr Empire
0
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Posted - 2014.05.05 18:53:00 -
[1] - Quote
Dearest Narivan,
I submit this to you as you request. I canGÇÖt refuse you anything. I know your enthusiasm for this project, though GÇ£Capsuleers Before They Were CapsuleersGÇ¥ seems a mundane title. I suspect you will be sharing my story in an effort to encourage others to do the same. I know you feel my remaining sense of shame is unwarranted. Telling about my life seems an enormous risk, but I have attempted to be as forthright as you would be in my place.
I was born in Sazre, in the Kingdom. I was the eldest of FatherGÇÖs twelve children. There are five from Mother and seven from my step-mother. My familyGÇÖs Holdings were my universe as a child. As the eldest, I was taught that I would someday rule. My youth was shaped by the wisdom Father, Mother and my tutors passed on to me.
As I got older I realized that while our estates and ventures were successful and relatively large, there remained a subtle distinction in our Khanid familyGÇÖs status among the Holders. Even within the Kingdom, where Khanid blood is viewed even more favorably than in the Empire, Holders are a hidebound and traditional caste. The Amarr Holders cling to status with all their power. Khanid Holders are ever-aware of this and Father was not immune. He was true Khanid patriot, proud of our king (Amarr though he is) and proud of our people. Father courted an image as an honorable, respectable, and pious man. In the closeness of our family compound, some knew our father was not a believer. The show of faith was his public face, his private thoughts were more wide-ranging.
My own name GÇ£MazianGÇ¥ was a quiet signal. Mother showed me the ancient chronicle where Mazian was a protector of the birthplace of humanity. He fought to the end to hold his people safe from an overpowering threat. Driven to extremes, he threw off traditional rules of morality to protect his people. It was only because there was a centuries-dead theologian named GÇ£MezianGÇ¥ that my parents took the risk of naming their oldest for an infidel.
I was a perfectly behaved heir. I was attentive, stoic, studious, and responsible. I learned how to be a good patron to our familyGÇÖs clients and how to be a good master to our slaves.
Even after MotherGÇÖs death, my position was assured. My half siblings were no threat to my place. I was betrothed to a well-placed HolderGÇÖs daughter. Father had scored particularly well in his matchmaking. The girl was half-Amarr. I thought I was content because I knew that I did right.
Things did no continue so, or there would be no story to tell. Everything changed. I hesitate to say it because it seems so trite and so foolish.
I fell in love.
As the heir to the Holder, this was a problem but it neednGÇÖt be insurmountable. Many Holders have mistresses. In Sazre, a long-term mistress is less problematic than a series of affairs. There was no doubt that my step-mother had been FatherGÇÖs mistress. A man or woman faces no particular sanction so long as they are discrete, even if others whisper.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with someone beyond all bounds of respectability. The one I loved was a man; far worse than that, he was Minmatar and he was a slave.
I still find it painful to recall my confusion and self-hatred during that time. My attraction to him went against everything I had been raised to believe. Father may not have been a believer, but I was. My culture, my caste, and my religion all taught me about the differences between nobles, commoners, and slaves. Father taught me the importance of status, reputation and the pride of the Khanid. I was breaking almost every rule I knew.
IGÇÖm still somewhat the man I was raised to be. My mind and heart are changed, but my manner remains. I find I canGÇÖt tell you of my time with Yrning other than to say that I became truly alive and aware. The beliefs I had taken as my birthright fell away so quickly that I was left unmoored. Knowing him broke me and saved me all at once. It also ended me to my family.
We were so careful, but we couldnGÇÖt continue. Discovery was only a matter of time. My sister Narivan gave hints that she suspected. Dabbling with a slave might be forgiven as a youthful indiscretion, but I found I couldnGÇÖt tolerate YrningGÇÖs enslavement. I embezzled money from FatherGÇÖs accounts and worked with a disreputable broker to hire a ship to smuggle him and his family to Federation space. I gave them as much money as I thought I could keep hidden from Father. And I said goodbye.
I knew I had done what I must and I knew it was for the good of everyone concerned. My eyes were dry, but I ached. I resigned myself to misery after he had left. I would be the heir to the Holder. I would marry my slightly higher-status betrothed. I would maintain the fa+ºade of respectability and piety. I would honor God, King, Father, and Family. I would carefully explain the responsibility and the burden of the Reclaiming to my children. I would lie as Father had.
None of that was to be. The missing slaves were a problem, of course. My attempts to make it seem they had simply fled were flimsy. My step-mother discovered the missing money in the accounts. She investigated. The broker betrayed me by telling her his guess of my sins. My step-mother saw an opportunity to disgrace me and perhaps maneuver one of her children to become heir. Narivan learned of my step-motherGÇÖs plans. She warned me too late to change my fate.
(see next page)
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Mazian Arody
Hedion University Amarr Empire
0
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Posted - 2014.05.05 18:54:00 -
[2] - Quote
(continued)
I walked in as my step-mother told Father her findings. He was shocked and then furious. It was clear that my greatest sin was endangering his status, his hard-earned place of respectability. He did not care if I secretly enjoyed myself with a slave, but freeing him was evidence of the sin, evidence of impiety, and theft as well. Loving a slave? Unthinkable. I know now that I had also shamed him before his wife.
I surprised myself by arguing back. I told him that he had no more faith than I did now. I yelled that he was more concerned about appearances than he was about me. I had never done this. Narivan was the coddled rebel of the family. I was the dutiful son with no apparent dissent.
Father stopped. He calmed. And then he looked defeated and lost. GÇ£You will leave. You are no longer my heir. I will protect the family by insuring that no one will know of your dishonor. You will apply to study off-world and you will not return. I will explain that you felt you werenGÇÖt adequate to be Holder and stepped aside for your brother.GÇ¥
I didnGÇÖt know what to feel. I had resigned myself to misery but now everything was unknown.
I did feel vindictive pleasure in seeing step-motherGÇÖs shock at my brother being named heir. Her mistake was thinking that holding FatherGÇÖs shame to his face would bind him to her. Her actions had made her a risk to be managed, not a dear spouse to be loved.
I left. I was given my donum GÇô money given to non-resident non-inheriting children. I was not officially disinherited. There was to be no scandal. I was still enough of who I had been to leave as I had been told.
I was lucky. I met criteria to become a capsuleer. I survived the process with mind, though not always pride, intact. I was academically prepared for the world, but socially at sea. As I had been raised, I held myself aloof. I had acquaintances but no friends. I saw the galaxy but I experienced it alone.
I learned later that Narivan had also become a capsuleer. She was unwilling to be married for the familyGÇÖs benefit but ultimately left with FatherGÇÖs blessing. She was his favorite, after all. I believe when he looked at her he saw himself free of the constraints of his life. I was the cautionary tale, she the daydream. Despite FatherGÇÖs blessing, she remained angrier on my behalf than I was.
It was with joy that I met Narivan in some nameless station. She grasped my hand with both of hers and said, GÇ£I couldnGÇÖt tell you until I could hold your hand!GÇ¥
I laughed. GÇ£What, did you find a nice young man to dally with?GÇ¥
Her smile was not her typically devious one. Her news made her more childlike than I remembered. GÇ£No, Brother. IGÇÖve seen Yrning. HeGÇÖs a capsuleer! He wants to see you!GÇ¥
I had no words. For the first time since Mother died, I cried.
--By the hand of Mazian Arody and no other; to Narivan Arody to use as she wishes |
Claudia Osyn
Mythic Security Service
376
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Posted - 2014.05.05 19:09:00 -
[3] - Quote
I was born on a freighter of a traveling show, my momma' would dance for the money they'd throw. Papa' would do whatever he could.... The lack of money is the root of all evil. |
Jurou Yuan
Hakkaisuo Corporation Monyusaiya Industry Trade Group
94
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Posted - 2014.05.06 07:42:00 -
[4] - Quote
Hmm. I'll keep it brief.
In West nennamalia born and raised In a boot camp is where I spent most of my days Chilling out, maxin' relaxin all cool And shooting up a speedball outside of a school.
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Laria Raven
Stillwater Corporation
89
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Posted - 2014.05.06 07:47:00 -
[5] - Quote
Before I was a capsuleer I was a good girl!
...and now I'm very, very, good. Fallen from grace. And as night comes, may flights of Angels visit your sleep... shoot your ships and steal all of your stuff. |
Corpii Herald
West Khanid Blooding Enthusiasts
8
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Posted - 2014.05.06 07:56:00 -
[6] - Quote
I used to be a citizen of the State. I got better. |
Andreus Ixiris
Duty.
4611
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Posted - 2014.05.06 08:22:00 -
[7] - Quote
Before they discovered I was capsule-compatible, I was training to be an electrical engineer. I imagine I'd have ended up with Roden Shipyards or the Federal Navy. Perhaps I'd have taken a job on a capsuleer ship. Mane 614
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Ayallah
SniggWaffe WAFFLES.
184
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Posted - 2014.05.06 11:29:00 -
[8] - Quote
There is nothing that can follow you into immortality but that which you allow. The sooner you learn this freedom, the sooner your problems cease to exist, as a capuleer the human social contract no longer applies.
It was weak of you to fall in love, but it would be weaker still to yield to it. -áFear The Tribes |
Stitcher
Alexylva Paradox Low-Class
3608
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Posted - 2014.05.06 13:49:00 -
[9] - Quote
I'm a megacorp child to the bone. Born aboard an Ishukone deep space mineral survey vessel (I arrived unexpectedly early), grew up in a corp creche, went down the military>medical career track, served in Ishukone Watch SWAT, "Tanto" Unit #35, Nebula Squad.
When the squad was disbanded, I underwent intensive re-education, acquired my trauma surgery fellowship and served briefly in the Watch Medical Support Corps with the rank of Major, until I was discovered to be pod-compatible. Promptly retired, took my pension as a lump sum and used it to pay my way through the School of Applied Knowledge, with the aid of an international outreach scholarship program. Graduated in the top 5% of the October YC107 class, winning the Acuri Prize and a silver Kanamane Medal.
At which point things started to get interesting. An in-character blog and a video: http://verinsjournal.blogspot.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu1mbsgo738
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Anatole Madullier
Alexylva Paradox Low-Class
238
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Posted - 2014.05.06 14:03:00 -
[10] - Quote
Few people know this, but Verin was actually born with that beard, he dominated the creche and was instantly promoted to major upon entering the military. Honestly.
For me, quite simple really.
Senator's son that got quite adept at dodging and/or dealing with cameras and journalists. Studied business and sociology at Caille and finished my studies despite being pod capable.
Before and during Uni, next to my studies I mainly busied myself with activism, LGBTQ rights, diversities and minorities which we have enough of in the Federation despite what anyone tells you. And then there were the legal and less than legal parties I used to organize. aÑÉ |
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Anslo
Scope Works
4960
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Posted - 2014.05.06 14:15:00 -
[11] - Quote
Jurou Yuan wrote:Hmm. I'll keep it brief.
In West nennamalia born and raised In a boot camp is where I spent most of my days Chilling out, maxin' relaxin all cool And shooting up a speedball outside of a school.
When a couple jaijii, they were up to no good, Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood. We got in one little fight and the State got scared and said, "You're going to enlist in faction warfare!"
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Andreus Ixiris
Duty.
4613
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Posted - 2014.05.06 14:32:00 -
[12] - Quote
Anslo wrote:Jurou Yuan wrote:Hmm. I'll keep it brief.
In West nennamalia born and raised In a boot camp is where I spent most of my days Chilling out, maxin' relaxin all cool And shooting up a speedball outside of a school.
When a couple jaijii, they were up to no good, Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood. We got in one little fight and the State got scared and said, "You're going to enlist in faction warfare!" I begged and pleaded with her, day after day, But she packed my cargo bay and sent me on my way She gave me a salute and then she gave me my ticket I put my Egone on and thought "might as well kick it!" Mane 614
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Anslo
Scope Works
4962
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Posted - 2014.05.06 14:42:00 -
[13] - Quote
Andreus Ixiris wrote:Anslo wrote:Jurou Yuan wrote:Hmm. I'll keep it brief.
In West nennamalia born and raised In a boot camp is where I spent most of my days Chilling out, maxin' relaxin all cool And shooting up a speedball outside of a school.
When a couple jaijii, they were up to no good, Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood. We got in one little fight and the State got scared and said, "You're going to enlist in faction warfare!" I begged and pleaded with her, day after day, But she packed my cargo bay and sent me on my way She gave me a salute and then she gave me my ticket I put my Egone on and thought "might as well kick it!"
Tier four man, yo this is phat Whoring LP blappin all these fail rats . Is this what faction war peeps living like? Hmmmmm this might be alright.
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Andreus Ixiris
Duty.
4614
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Posted - 2014.05.06 14:53:00 -
[14] - Quote
Anslo wrote:Andreus Ixiris wrote:etc. etc. avoiding quote pyramid Tier four man, yo this is phat Whoring LP blappin all these fail rats . Is this what faction war peeps living like? Hmmmmm this might be alright. But then I hear the Provists (hedonists and all that) Is this the kind of place that they should send this cool cat? I don't think so, I'll see when I get there, I hope they're prepared for the Prince of Fwarfare! Mane 614
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Mazian Arody
Hedion University Amarr Empire
3
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Posted - 2014.05.07 14:59:00 -
[15] - Quote
Ayallah wrote:There is nothing that can follow you into immortality but that which you allow. The sooner you learn this freedom, the sooner your problems cease to exist, as a capuleer the human social contract no longer applies.
It was weak of you to fall in love, but it would be weaker still to yield to it.
You've kindly offered another dogma to replace the one I've lost. I respectfully decline. |
Pieter Tuulinen
Verdant Inquiries Monyusaiya Industry Trade Group
3598
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Posted - 2014.05.07 15:33:00 -
[16] - Quote
Engineered, Batched and Decanted in Abagawa, part of a Sibkin of one hundred. One of thirty-seven to graduate from my creche and into the Peace & Order Unit as a cadet. Spent about five years as a cadet and junior officer there, until the mandatory testing that revealed me as capsule compatible.
Then into the SWA and the rest is history. "You let one of them go, but that's nothing new is it? Every now and then a little victim is allowed to escape; because she smiled, because he's got freckles, because they begged. And that's how you live with yourself. That's how you slaughter millions." "Only a killer would know that..." |
Ayallah
SniggWaffe WAFFLES.
184
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Posted - 2014.05.07 16:29:00 -
[17] - Quote
Mazian Arody wrote:You've kindly offered another dogma to replace the one I've lost. I respectfully decline.
As you say.
As for myself, as the topic of the thread seems to have become about sharing: I was bred on Hexandria in a creche. I was raised as a Kameira in the Subigos. I am a Kameira and now, also a capsuleer. -áFear The Tribes |
Zenariae
Neo-Sani
99
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Posted - 2014.05.07 20:31:00 -
[18] - Quote
Mama traded in clothes and things, lots of pretty shiny things. Papa died. Then Mama remarried and looked after the estate, but not much else. |
Saya Ishikari
Akagi Initiative
293
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Posted - 2014.05.08 02:05:00 -
[19] - Quote
I was batched and engineered for the specific purposes of macroeconomic engineering, infrastricture planning, and national logistics... Then I was told not to think too much, point out the problems I saw, or come up with solutions that fell anywhere outside the comfort zone of the people that made me to do those very things. In essence, the very tasks I was given life to undertake never came to pass because facts are unpopular.
Thankfully, I turned out to be capsule compatible. The rest is a matter of record. |
Diana Kim
State Protectorate Caldari State
1063
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Posted - 2014.05.08 03:31:00 -
[20] - Quote
Saya Ishikari wrote:I was batched and engineered for the specific purposes of macroeconomic engineering, infrastricture planning, and national logistics... Then I was told not to think too much, point out the problems I saw, or come up with solutions that fell anywhere outside the comfort zone of the people that made me to do those very things. In essence, the very tasks I was given life to undertake never came to pass because facts are unpopular.
Thankfully, I turned out to be capsule compatible. The rest is a matter of record. So, becoming a traitor, is "a matter of record"? R-right... |
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Claudia Osyn
Mythic Security Service
385
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Posted - 2014.05.08 07:21:00 -
[21] - Quote
Diana Kim wrote:Saya Ishikari wrote:I was batched and engineered for the specific purposes of macroeconomic engineering, infrastricture planning, and national logistics... Then I was told not to think too much, point out the problems I saw, or come up with solutions that fell anywhere outside the comfort zone of the people that made me to do those very things. In essence, the very tasks I was given life to undertake never came to pass because facts are unpopular.
Thankfully, I turned out to be capsule compatible. The rest is a matter of record. So, becoming a traitor, is "a matter of record"? R-right... You're stuttering again, Kimmy. The lack of money is the root of all evil. |
Scherezad
Revenent Defence Corperation Ishuk-Raata Enforcement Directive
1751
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Posted - 2014.05.08 15:06:00 -
[22] - Quote
There's nothing wrong with having a stutter :| |
Stitcher
Alexylva Paradox Low-Class
3612
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Posted - 2014.05.08 15:09:00 -
[23] - Quote
Not in somebody who has one routinely, no.
In somebody who does not ordinarily stutter, it's usually a verbal "tell" indicating insecurity. An in-character blog and a video: http://verinsjournal.blogspot.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu1mbsgo738
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Myxx
734
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Posted - 2014.05.09 06:46:00 -
[24] - Quote
I was an analyst for the Federation Navy. That's about all I care to say. |
Erys Charantes
University of Caille Gallente Federation
101
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Posted - 2014.05.10 07:47:00 -
[25] - Quote
Diplomat, one time State citizen, first hand witness to disaster, sometime dabbler in certain arts and esoteric fields, Federation citizen by default, and somehow capsuleer-ish. Nothing special. |
Valerie Valate
Church of The Crimson Saviour
544
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Posted - 2014.05.10 09:00:00 -
[26] - Quote
Before I was a capsuleer, I was a fashion model, for one of the leading fashion design houses in Delve. |
Ox Alkhor
State War Academy Caldari State
0
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Posted - 2014.05.10 15:18:00 -
[27] - Quote
Law school graduate, worked for a Caldari interplanetary Tax Law firm for a few years back in Kisogo. That's pretty much it. |
Scherezad
Revenent Defence Corperation Ishuk-Raata Enforcement Directive
1758
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Posted - 2014.05.10 15:24:00 -
[28] - Quote
I really don't know what I was before I was a Capsuleer! I assume I was an Achuran of some description. |
Diana Kim
State Protectorate Caldari State
1069
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Posted - 2014.05.11 00:43:00 -
[29] - Quote
Soldier of the State. Before and after. |
Norrin Ellis
Venture Racing
246
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Posted - 2014.05.11 01:52:00 -
[30] - Quote
I was wealthy and spoiled. Not much has really changed, save that I get to travel a bit more often to much more distant locales. CEO, Venture Racing Manager, EVE Online Hold'Em |
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