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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:21:00 -
[1]
I am a man. That is the most important thing to remember. There are other things that describe me, warrior, slave, father, brother, uncle, husband, faithful, brave, old, wise, arrogant, conceited, spiteful. There are many words, but they all describe me, a man. Remember that.
My name is Hakarris Val'Daerth. It was my great grandfathers name. It was given to me by my father the hour I first drew breath. My mother almost did not survive my birth, but God was with her that day and she pulled through. I do not know my ancestry, at least not enough to care. I am a slave to the House Daerth, as was my father, and his father, and his father, and his father, and his father before him. We have served for generations, through times of feast and times of famine. My sons are serving the House as I write this.
My lord asked me to tell my story, how and as I saw fit, and as much as I knew of it. He wishes to let others see what life is like here in the Empire, and since he is my lord, I shall do as he commands.
I was a boy, once. I played with others of the House, slave and commoner and holder alike. To a child it is not something of concern, and, at least in the confines of House Daerth, it is not of concern to those older and presumably wiser than we are as children. I ran and fought and climbed. There was a tree of great height that we all would dare each other to climb. Sometimes someone would fall, and have to go to the healer, but this is not something that concerns children. We can conquer the universe when we are children. We see so clearly, and all is so easy for a child. It is only later that we come to see the things that make life so... complicated.
I digress. Hakarris Val'Daerth. What to say. I was taken at the age of 10 to be trained. I was tested, examined, had blood and gene samples taken and scanned and was eventually placed in an academy for young boys. It was a rough place. We competed and were challenged to excel at every turn. We learned basic math and sciences and some preliminary skills to prepare us for our lives of service to House Daerth. Lord Holder Veron was not the Holder at that time, was not even conceived of, truth to tell. The Holder was his father, Lord Valis Daerth, then himself a young man. The Holder's grandfather Lord Holder Zeorem, had begun to take slaves and to elevate those most worthy (and trustworthy) to household service, especially service as household guards. Lord Holder Koreth (Lord Holder Valis's father) had continued and expounded on this, elevating slaves to positions of retainers of the family with set terms of service and manumission awaiting them upon completion of their terms. Lord Holder Valis chose 400 of us to be taken into his House as guards, I was among them. It was the greatest day of my life. Or so I thought. We all think that "this is the greatest day of my life" when we are young. We are all fools.
But I have jumped ahead. Schooling. School was hard for me. I was never adept with numbers, but was always good at various of the arts. Yes, art. Painting, music, you know, art. Yes, we were taught art. Art is essential to express yourself in a way that is not violent and destructive. You can put all your love and joy and sorrow and anger into music, or paint, or even a block of wood or stone. You can also make great works of art to decorate homes and cathedrals. Then your expression is seen by all, but only you ever understand what goes into it. Bah, I am rambling, yes I know. It happens when your old. Wait and see.
I was to be a soldier. A slave soldier, but a soldier nonetheless. I took to it with great enthusiasm. I was taught many skills, and was very good at what I did. When I graduated, I and my classmates were elevated to retainers of Lord Holder Valis Daerth, and as I said before, it was the greatest day of my life.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:21:00 -
[2]
When you are young, you think you can conquer the universe. You can go forth and Reclaim all in the name of God and you are invincible. Only later do we learn the truth. Sometimes, we dont live long enough to learn any other truth than that what we think when we are young, isnt true.
I was a slave-soldier, serving my House, and was happy with this. I was held in esteem by my peers. I was respected by the pureblood Amarrians and Khanid of the House for my skill at arms and my stealth. I was known by name to my Lord. All was well. Or so I thought. I met a woman, and she was...glorious. Her name was Meris, and she was a slave like me. Only she did not belong to my Lord and Master. She belonged to another Lord that did not care greatly for my House. However, since this Lord and my Lord Valis were peers and members of the Nobility, they had to at least publicly tolerate each other. This necessitated attending various political gatherings and Conclaves together. I met Meris at one such Conclave. I was young, and foolish, and strong, and fast, and foolish, and invincible. I was also foolish, have I mentioned that?
She was attending to the needs of her Lord, as I was. I saw her when she brought him something to drink. She was a vision. I knew nothing but her, saw nothing but her, and knew in that instant that she had to be mine. There is nothing so pigheaded as a young man in lust for the first time. The drink displeased her Lord, and he looked at her. Nothing more, as that would improper for such as he in such a setting. But she looked so afraid. I almost moved from my Lords side then. I dont know what I would have done, but whaetever it was, I didnt do it. I had that much wisdom at least.
There were bi-weekly Conclaves for the Lord Holders to discuss anything that needed to be addressed in regards to the governance of the planet, though not all of them attended every Conclave, so I got to see Meris often. She seemed to be a favorite of her Lord. I later found out how much of a favorite. At any rate, I was proud of my position as a trusted guard of my Lord. Lord Valis began to do things for us, and to see to how we would survive after we were released after our terms. He began to grant manumitted slaves small parcels of land close to the villages where we lived. We could do with them as we wished, or take a monetary equivalent in cash to invest or spend as we saw fit. During one of the Conclaves, this came up and was discussed by some of the Lords present. Many ridiculed Lord Holder Valis, though subtly to be sure, and some thought it a good idea. Not surprisingly, Meris' Lord was quite outspoken against this "softening" of Lord Valis' treatment of his slaves. There were several cutting remarks traded and Lord Valis seemed to come out the better for the exchange. Meris' Lord was quite angered by this.
The result was a quiet feud and a small "war". I say war, but it wasnt anything that would merit the term anywhere else. There were some attempts to sabotage my Lords factories and some of the crops had viral agents introduced into them. The household guards of House Daerth would sometimes slash with guards of Meris' Lords House guards, all very low key, and low tech. Thats the key. Imperial law prevents outright conflict between the Houses, but there are loopholes. Soldiers armed with swords and spears can "contest" for the honor of their House. Its open to some very..liberal interpretation. But its legal. And that what we did.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:22:00 -
[3]
Battle is exciting. Especially when you are young. You look at it as a contest of your manhood, your chance to prove yourself in the only real contest that matters. Games are ultimately for children, battle is where the winner lives and the loser...
well, he usually dies. There is no "good effort" "nice try" or "its not about winning, but having fun". Thats for children and the Gallente. War is about who is supreme, who is better, who is luckier. War is also hell. Those that tell you different are liars.
The "war" between Meris' Lords House and my House didnt last long. House Daerth has a reputation for being good at tactics and strategy. Lord Valis did not wish to start a fight, but he damned well finished it. Lady Athera Daerth, Lord Valis' wife, was attacked. It was a bold move and it was never ascertained whether or not the attack was meant to kill her or to simply kidnap her to use against my Lord. It was motivated and ordered by a small group of Holders led by the Lord Holder that owned Meris. This man had opposed my Lord for many reasons, and had done things to discredit my Lord and to even have him investigated by Imperial authorities for heresy. They had been opposed to each other for some time and my Lord Valis finally had a chance to destroy his enemy.
Through careful investigation and an agent placed in his opponents household, Lord Valis was able to take the information gathered to the regional Holder, who judged Meris' Lord to have been guilty of the attempt to kill Lady Athera. He was executed for this. His House was ordered to pay reparations for the damage caused by their attacks and attempts to sabotage my Lord. Among these reparations was a group of slaves, given as part of a payment. One of them was Meris.
I could not believe my luck. Lord Valis had always allowed us to choose our mates from a group selected to be most compatible for us. I did not know if Meris would be among them, but I could hope. I was young, and as I said, foolish.
I accompanied Lord Valis and his Lady to many of their estates. Meris was placed amongst those slaves that attended Lady Athera. We often saw each other, but never had too much time alone or unattended. I was good at my job. I rose in the ranks of the household guard. I eventually was placed on the detail responsible for the close guard of Lord Valis himself. He knew me by name, and often spoke to us about things both trivial and of personal importance. He spoke to us of what we thought and what we would have done to make our lives better. One of these discussion resulted in the dispensation of a small stipend to laborers based upon their output and productivity. Lord Valis felt that it would motivate them to work well, and to take pride in their work. I cannot say that it was unsuccessful, but then again, economics is not something I am concerned with. I eventually served as a sub-commander in Lord Valis' guard. It was the highest rank a slave could be given in that day. I was older by that time. I had been enrolled in the guard when I graduated from my basic training at the age of 17. I was now 31. I thought I had seen it all, done it all. I felt wise and somewhat experienced. Little did I know that my most trying times were still ahead of me.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:23:00 -
[4]
Life is always about the next challenge, the next great goal. When we are young, we feel that with each achievement we have reached a pinnacle of greatness. Little do we know that it is only with age that we can look back on a long list of accomplishments and see how far we have truly come. Only then can you really see how each achievement is but a small part of a greater working, a greater thing, a thing called life.
There was an estate held by my Lord on a world in the outer rim of the Empire. It was a beautiful place, and my lord sought to build something there of great worth. He was planning for the birth of his first son, and wanted to build a home there for his wife and future family. He poured a lot of time and assets into the creation of a grand Estate. The Hold itself was almost a fortress, strong and tall and deep. The planet was called Sepherad by the locals and my Lord named the Hold, Sephardim. I do not know what it meant to him, but he loved that place.
It was a glorious place, far from the politics of the heart of the Empire and beautiful and rugged. There were mountains that seemed to touch the sky, and lakes of blue water that were so clean and clear and crisp that it seemed as if God Himself had created them but yesterday. Fields were planted and sowed. Villages were founded and homes built. In time Lady Athera became pregnant and bore Lord Valis a son, whom he named Veron.
In honor of the birth of his first son, twenty men of the Lord's guard were assigned to the boy and were granted any request they could name, so long as it lay within the power of Lord Valis to grant. You may guess what I asked for.
Meris was happy to have me, I think. She wasnt asked or consulted. I had asked for her to be mine to marry and to bear my sons, and Lord Valis granted that request. We had become friends and I even believe had come to like and respect each other. I had come to see her quiet strength and her quick mind. She was always the smartest of the two of us. She planned for the future, Meris did, and knew that I was a good match. I like to think she loved me, but I am old now and know that she probably liked me a bit and definitely barely tolerated some of my more annoying habits in the beginning. That has changed over time, as all things do. I have changed and she has changed and we have both come to love and cherish each other. She is my one and only beloved wife. Looking back, I see I was motivated by a lot of lust and some caring and maybe a bit of sense. Whatever it was that made me ask for her and not something else, it was by far the best decision I have ever made.
I thought I had it all. A wife that I loved (I thought it was love, I have since come to really truly know of love), a good Lord worthy of my service (yes worthy of MY service, there are not many who are), and his new son. Lord Valis made a monumental decision that day. He placed his only son in the care of myself. A slave soldier. I commanded the boys guard, reported to the House captain, disposed my men as I saw fit. Truly the world was good.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:24:00 -
[5]
It is a facet of human nature that we look about us and see only what we wish to see. We look and yet we do not truly see. The pettiness of a son, the spite of a daughter, the flaws in our loved ones. The failings of our dearest friends. The flaws in our most treasured beliefs and ideals. They are all there, but we ignore them, we brush them aside. This is human nature. Always has been, probably always will be.
The boy grew. It happens, watch some children and see. Meris and I were married and were happy. We had our issues, all couples do, but they were dealt with and resolved. I came to know and love Lord Veron. He was a precocious boy. He was prone to getting into trouble with the other children. He led them on "adventures" across the fields and into the woods. He would fall into any patch of water big enough to get him messy. He organized groups of children to fight "great battles" against the "heretics" and "heathens" (the other children) with mudballs and with sticks. His father often chastised the boy for including the other children in his escapades and getting them in trouble with their parents. But it was clear to see that he was proud of the boy for being the one that led the others, that made the decisions, that organized the other children.
Lord Veron as a child could be... difficult. Lord Valis however, made clear to me that I was responsible for disciplining him when it was needful. It was.. quite often. He had heard things from other children, and as a child does, believe himself to be the fount of all wisdom in the universe. I had to take him across my knee only once. It was when Lord Veron was but 6. He had done something in the house and had made a mess. His mother sought to make him clean it up, as a punishment, but when she had gone, he told a house slave to do it. I saw this and should have said something then, but the slave, knowing that Lady Athera had instructed Lord Veron to do it HIMSELF, refused, citing her Mistresses order for the young Lord to clean the mess himself, personally.
I thought the matter closed for a moment, then the young lord blurted something in a childish it of rage. He told the slave he would have her thrown to the hounds for defying him. (One of his playmates was the son of a more...traditional household in the area, and Lord Veron probably simply repeated something his playmate had said.) The slave went white, and shook with fear. She was new, and probably was unfamiliar with Lord Valis' ways, but I know that other Lord Holders indulge their sons to this extent. I also know Lord Valis would not have, would have been quite angry with young Lord Veron if he ever found out. The poor girl didnt know that however. I grabbed him and dragged him down the hall and into the kitchens.
After I ordered the slaves in there out, I shook the boy and asked him what in God's name he thought he was doing. I told him that if he was man enough to threaten others with death on a whim, he was man enough to accept the consequences of such actions and decisions. I beat his ass. He cried. He threatened to "tell" on me. It was then that he got the first of many lectures on the behavior of real men. How they accept their punishments for their actions with grace and stoicism. How they should look at all the consequences of their actions and think ahead. He and I never spoke of it, but it was understood that there were things that you told your father or mother, and things that men settled among themselves. This was his first real lesson, and I am proud to say he learned it well.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:24:00 -
[6]
Often we overlook the past and its lessons in our reach to gain the fruits of the future. This is foolish, since the past is the source of all wisdom. Those that forget or ignore the wisdom gained and the lessons learned from the mistakes of the past are doomed repeat those mistakes.
When Lord Daerth was 7, his brother Keto was born. Lord Valis was often away overseeing the vast estates and assets of House Daerth, but he had returned to Sepherad a year before Lord Keto's birth. Lord Valis was pleased with young Lord Veron's progress. The boy was already doing well in his lessons, and was of an age to begin his training in the use of weapons.
Many decry this tradition, but it does have its uses. The art of the sword and axe and spear teaches discipline and control of oneself and your actions. By now I was the best of any who stood against me in the training circle. Since joining the Lord's Guard, I had been studying under a master of the blade that had consented to teach some of Lord Valis' guards in the arts of the blade (the better to defend him should it come to it) and I had excelled in that masters teachings. Sadly, the old man had died earlier in the year of Keto's birth, and the House needed another Armsmaster.
When Lord Keto was born, Lord Valis again celebrated the birth of his newest son by granting twenty men the honor of guarding the boy, and granting a single request of any kind if it was within his power to grant to those men. The greatest surprise or me, was when Lord Valis elevated me to the post of Armsmaster to replace the Amarrian master who had died.
I of course had to give up my position as Lord Veron's guard commander. I was granted the rank of sub-altern within the household guards and reported directly to Lord Valis. It was my responsibility to teach his sons and the guards of his household in the uses of all types of weapons. From the mightiest of shoulder fired laser cannons to the lowest of sleeve-daggers, I knew them all and taught their use and mastery. I even asked for and was granted several State manufactured military grade man portable railguns and some of their shoulder fired rocket systems. The 15mm chaingun and firearms were of Matari origin and equally useful. In time Lord Valis returned to his duties as Lord Holder, and life went on.
Lord Keto grew, as all children do. We covered that already, I believe. He and his brother were amicable, for the most part. They had their disagreements, as all brothers do. Lord Veron remained in my care as his Armsmaster, but was watched by another man, Dalek, who had served as my second when I was Lord Veron guard commander. He was a good man, and served both Lord Veron and Lord Valis well.
Meris and I had our first child, a girl, soon after my elevation to Armsmaster, and I named her Anara. She was my life in many ways. She was glorious as the sun at dawn. When Lord Veron was 12, Lord Keto was 5 and Anara was 4, Lady Athera gave birth to her last child, a girl. Mishara was.. radiant. That child was special in so many ways. She was kind and gently disposed even as an infant. I recall that she rarely cried or squalled. She was a blessing of God upon our House. For a time, all was well.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:25:00 -
[7]
We each are born for a purpose. Sometimes we fulfill this purpose, sometimes we do not. Some of us are cut down before we can fulfill that purpose, and others must take up the tasks we left unfinished. Sometimes we never live long enough to discover what our true purpose is.
Years passed. Time goes on. Sometimes the household moved to other estates. But always, Sepherad held a special place in the Lord and Lady's hearts. Sephardim became "home" in a way that I had never experienced before. The rooms assigned to me and Meris and our children were "home". The memories of that place warm my heart to this day. Well... most of them at any rate.
They say that into each life some rain must fall. That sorrow touches us all. They dont lie.
Lord Valis had just left to inspect a new manufacturing center closer to the center of the Empire. There had been some Blood Raider Covenant raid on some of the nearby systems and outposts and settlements, but none in our system, and none that were very close to us. Nevertheless, Lord Valis left a sizeable contingent of men when he left.
Lord Veron was 19 and had been enrolled in the Imperial Academy for some time. Lord Keto was 12, and Lady Mishara had just turned 7. I was 51 at the time, and my age was beginning to catch up to me though I wanst about to admit that to anyone. My sons Kelis and Jorim had been born 2 years prior. The twins were my pride and joy along with my daughter.
Hmm... before I continue, some more information concerning the relationships of the household is in order here. When Lord Veron left for the Academy Lady Mishara had cried for days. Though he was some 12 years her elder, he loved and protected her like a rare treasure. He and his brother both loved Lady Mishara. We all did. My own daughter played with her and invented games and dressed dolls and did little girl things. My sons were learning to run and how to say "no". (Meris hated that above all else.) Lady Athera had taken ill and for some time the household was quite worried, but thanks to God, she pulled through and we all were much heartened to see her recovery come so swiftly.
Lord Valis had begun over the past few years to undertake the instruction of his eldest son and Heir, Lord Veron, in how to run the estates and how to properly care for the slaves and retainers and see to the web of alliances that kept House Daerth strong. Things were progressing well. Lord Keto was preparing to leave for his own preparatory school in the Empire, and was quite excited at the prospect. I recall that the day before everything changed, he had just finished expounding to me how he had such high hopes of being accepted to the schools fencing team. He believed that my lessons would enable him to swiftly dominate his opponents and would awe and inspire his fellows. Lady Mishara had just had her birthday and had gotten a new doll, among other things. She had also gotten a new punch dagger from me, and had been taught in its use since she was 5. (I am no fool, there are those that would seek to harm or abuse the little ones in this world. I am of the firm belief that if you can wrap your hand around the hilt of a dagger, you can and should carry one and know of its use. Mishara couldnt hold a normal dagger, so I had a very small one made for her, she was quite good with it, for a 7 year old.)
All was good with the world. Then they came.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:26:00 -
[8]
We, each of us, rise and fall. It is not that we fall, but that we pick ourselves up again that counts. It is not what we did not see or did not know that caused us to fall that matters, but what we take away from the experience. It is what we learn that counts.
It began with the comms channels being jammed. Some of the outlying villages went silent, and smoke rose into the sky. Orbital Control had reported unidentified ships immediately prior to being hit with a Kinetic Interdiction strike. WE knew they werent just going to kill us all from that. If they were here to just kill and loot, they would have nuked the base. The closest villages began to evacuate and the inhabitants began running to Sephardim. The Hold had been constructed to withstand small or moderate raids, but not something of this magnitude.
The particle shielding would hold against anything the raiders could throw through the atmosphere from a cruiser sized ship or smaller, and maybe a battlecruiser, but if there was a battleship up there we were done for. God was with us, and there was not.
The chaos was overwhelming. I knew Meris was in the Hold and that Kelis and Jorim and Anara were as well. I never discovered my mistake in that regard until later. My son Jorim had gone with some other children to see a play in a village close to the Hold. In war close only counts with hand grenades or nukes. Jorim died that day, drained of blood like an animal.
The household was in chaos and people were running in panic everywhere. The guards were mustered and armed and had begun to suit up. But power suits take time to don, and time was not on our side. Four drop ships worth of raiders landed about a kilometer from the village attached to Sephardim. One unit swept through the village and began to kill and capture as they saw fit. Some resisted and were slain. My son died in that place, he was 2.
Some of the villagers and others tried to make a break through the fields between the village and the Hold. None made it. Lady Mishara was one of those people. Her dagger had blood on it, and she wasnt drained. But she had been beaten and ****d. I know this, because I saw it, and watched it, and could do nothing from the top of a wall. She had hair like a waterfall of sable hue, and it was long and flowing. The glove of the half armor the Blood Raider wore caught it as she ran. She turned and I saw the dagger come out of its little sheath up her sleeve. She put it into the throat of the first man, the other three took her before she could do much. Many of us were trying to lay down suppressing fire on the raiders and still let the last stragglers into the Hold. We were in a excellent position to watch. Many of the men beside me wept or screamed or howled threats. I was an older man, and hod no such time for things like that. I knew Lady Mishara's fate when I saw her running. I marked the men about her, and descended the wall into the Hold.
By this time another unit of Raiders had landed and penetrated the Hold from the east. They had gotten through the defenses around the east gardens and had made it into the Lower Hall. They were pushing in towards the Holders quarters, and Lady Athera's guards were being overwhelmed. I had gathered some men to me by this time, and had rallied them adjacent to the Lower Hall. As the Blood Raiders passed, we took them in the flank and killed them all. There was no mercy asked, and damned sure none given. My men took light casualties. By now ammunition was running low, and I was out. I took an Agni'Kai (heavy ceremonial spear) from a wall display and used it instead.
We came upon a small group of Raiders clustered outside the doors to Lady Athera's rooms. Household troops lay thick about the doors, and so did the bodies of their foes. There were only a handful left on both sides and the Raiders were trying to retreat it appeared. God did not grant them that. My men and I granted them Death instead.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:27:00 -
[9]
We are each of us mortal, and make mistakes. We fail and try and fail again. Each time, a lesson is learned and we gain from our failures, hopefully. Each rime, we become a bit wiser.
The threats to the Hold were eliminated, and all that remained was to determine if there were more drop-ships on the way, and we were all going to die, or if this was it, and the raid was over.
Many of the wounded were being gathered in the upper floors and in the slave's mess hall behind the kitchens. I took those of my men that could still fight and headed toward the front gate and the village beyond. Any wounded of our House that we found along the way, we sent to the physician in the mess hall. Any of the raiders got a bullet, beam, or blade. We found a man that, by his power armor's quality and its decorations, we took to be a leader of some kind. He was sent to the mess hall with 3 guards to ensure he lived. Lord Valis would want information. Hopefully this man could provide it.
We exited the Hold and entered the courtyard. It was a scene of carnage. Many that had not been fast enough to make it inside before the closing of the Main Gate were clustered here. At least their bodies were. The poor souls had been caught in the crossfire of the attackers and the defending guards. Of the platoon of household troops that had been stationed at the gates and courtyard, only 10 or so remained. We left them there and continued on.
I could say that we searched for survivors amongst all of the victims strewn in a line form the village to the gates of Sephardim Hold. That would be a lie. I could say that we were concerned for all of the villagers and any who might survive. That would be a lie. I led my men to the place that I had last seen Mishara.
The stalks of wheat that grow tall can hide almost anything. You can look out across them and ignore or even mistake a battlefield for a peaceful field. You can be blind to the horror of the present, an favor of the blissful illusion before you. I wished then that the illusion was real. I still do.
We do things to each other, we who call ourselves men. We kill and maim and crush, and beat, and slaughter each other. But the one thing that should, above all else, be respected is the sanctity of a child's life. Would that God would step down and punish those who do the things that I saw had been done to her. Would that the eternal fire of His wrath would reduce them to less than ash where they stand.
She had not suffered long, and what was done in those last few minutes of her life are not to be spoken of...ever. My men and I avenged her as best we could on the Raiders that were retreating from the village. It was later estimated that the strike force that hit us had numbered about 720. About 300 or so made it out alive. All that was left was to clean up.
Meris found me later, when the burials of the dead had commenced. Dead Raiders were being burned and shoveled into a mass grave, and those of our House were being given Rites by a local priest. That was when I learned of the death of my son, Jorim. I think I didnt say anything for a long time, just stood there. My wife said some things, but I didnt hear her. I just stood.. and looked at the sky.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:28:00 -
[10]
"All the days of his life, he walked without fear. All of the lives of those he met were made better by knowing him. As he returned good with good, so too, his justice, and retribution were unfailing."
It was a time of insanity, and death. There were no pods, no pod pilots yet, at least not for the civilian populace. Every battle was a gamble and a chance that some or all of us would not survive. My Lord Veron had lost himself. The loss of so many so quickly had unhinged him to a great degree. He would confide a bit in a few, and I was one of those few.
We served him, and he led us into death and always led us out again, yet we all knew it was but a matter of time until his luck and skill ran out. Time became a blur. I dont know how long exactly we were out there, but it was 2 years before I saw my wife and children again. We did terrible things in the name of vengeance and hate. I committed acts that shamed me to this day. My lord committed acts that shamed his name, and his House. We all bore some scar from our time out in the wild places of the galaxy. I cannot remember how many battles we fought, and how many times we came close to death.
We ended up in a system far from any vestige of civilization. Far out along the Rim. There my Lord died. In a way. He had finally reached the limits of his insanity. Funny thing about insanity, it is like any other disease. It either kills you or you get better. In the pits of despair, hyped up on who knows what booster, he placed an antique pulser against his temple and pulled the trigger. It should have fired, and to this day I do not know why it didnt.
When Lord Veron came out of his quarters, the man that had led us so far and for so long into darkness was gone. The man that came out of that room is one I am proud to serve, even today.
We went home, and Lord Veron worked hard to restore honor to House Daerth and repair the neglect that had resulted from his crusade. The slaves and retainers and commoners that had been so long without their lord rejoiced at his return.
Many things have changed since that time. The great portraits of his father and mother were hung again, and portraits of Mishara and Keto commissioned. Deals were made and trade was resumed between old partners and allies. My Lord brought in architects and advisers from the Federation and the State and the Kingdom. Factories were modernized and new laws enacted for my Lord's people. I am ambivalent to many of my Lords new ideas, but he is the Lord Holder, and so far things seem to be working out well.
My son and daughter were taken and trained and schooled and placed as to best benefit the estates and our House. My grandchildren have been born and I take pride in them. I did not know my father, and never knew my mother after I was placed, but I know my children and grandchildren and they know me. As I write this, Seram, son of Kelis , son of Hakarris (one of my grandchildren) runs about my study, shrieking and howling. He is waving one of the practice sword from the display down the hall. He will soon be taught the ways of the real weapon, like his forefathers before him. He will serve our House well.
I sit in my own home, old and wise (they tell me this daily) and having seen the world and its wonders. I remember times when things were harder and times of greatness. Though I serve Lord Veron as guard, Armsmaster, slave, or soldier no longer, I still serve him and his House in my heart. My son serves as I did, and as well, or even better. My daughter has taken her place in the household of another slave, a farmer named Kerim and they have given me another set of grandchildren, Ushet and Melara, also twins.
As I sit here, I can listen to Meris moving about the house and humming one of the many hymns sung at mass. To this day, she is still my beautiful vision of a wife. All my life has been mostly struggle and hardship, and I have learned from it. I am happy now, here in the twilight of my days.
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:29:00 -
[11]
Death is not the end, it is just the beginning.
My Lord asked me to write something that would help others understand my place in the Empire. To aid them in understanding that all that they hear of the Empire is not all that is the Empire. I do not believe that this is something that I can accomplish, so what is told in the pages before this is my story, as best as I can tell it. It is not good, nor is it bad, it simply is.
Those that believe that the Empire can encompass only evil will take nothing from this story, or will only take what they wish to see or hear. Those that see the Empire as a paragon will only see or hear that which they wish to as well. I am not a prophet to see the future, or a priest or theologian to parse the words and meaning of Gods Will. I cannot do the things that my Lord wishes of me in this case.
I was many things. I was a slave, I was a soldier, I was an Amrmsmaster. I am a father, a husband, a lover, a warrior. I am old, I am wise, I am loyal to my Lord. I am of the Faith of God, I am arrogant, I am cynical, I am callous. I am happy, I am sad, I am joyous, and filled with sorrow.
These things are but aspects, and only are a small part of the whole of what I am. I am a man.
((Chronicler's Note: Hakarris Val'Daerth lives near the village of Helius, on the planet of Mamenkhanar IV, in the Amarr Empire. He is 84 years of age (standard) and is survived by a son Kelis, and a daughter, Anara. He has been released from active service from House Daerth. He is considered to be one of the most trusted and valuable slaves to have ever served House Daerth. His acts and service stand as a testament to both himself and his House.))
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Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:54:00 -
[12]
Edited by: Stitcher on 24/07/2008 02:57:33
Veron, I wish I was half the writer you are. This is outstanding stuff. It's also a badly-needed bit of positive light for the much-maligned Amarr.
Very well done, sir.
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 02:57:00 -
[13]
ok, I lied....i did check it again, a few errors that i was thinking about have been corrected. Thanx Stitcher for the compliment.
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Zekarus
Caldari
MAIDS
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Posted - 2008.07.24 11:07:00 -
[14]
 Originally by: Stitcher
Edited by: Stitcher on 24/07/2008 02:57:33
Veron, I wish I was half the writer you are. This is outstanding stuff. It's also a badly-needed bit of positive light for the much-maligned Amarr.
Very well done, sir.
Holy balls, this notion has been seconded.
This piece deserves more worthy praise by someone with more extensive vocabulary, but I'm at loss for words. Or maybe it's the flu and headache.
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MAIDS. Now with black, frilly uniforms. |
Math'ra Hiede
Amarr
Quality Assurance Inc.
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Posted - 2008.07.24 11:35:00 -
[15]
Great read - one of the best ones that show us Amarr arn't as horrible as we appear to be.
also just a great story, truly enjoyable
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Logan Xerxes
State Protectorate
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Posted - 2008.07.24 14:28:00 -
[16]
A very good read on a "progressive holder" situation. More please sir
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Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.07.24 21:15:00 -
[17]
I am currently working on another one, from the point of view of a younger slave on my estate. There will hopefully be 4 total stories, an older slave, that served in my fathers time (this one), a younger one that serves in a more contemporary setting, a non-slave retainer, possibly a priest on one of my estates, and one that I havent decided on yet. Suggestions welcome for #4
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Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
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Posted - 2008.07.24 21:20:00 -
[18]
one of the ship captains working for the Daerth family, maybe?
Nothing fancy - an Omen or something like that.
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Veron Daerth
Amarr
Blood Meridian
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Posted - 2008.08.01 05:06:00 -
[19]
Ok, working on a new story, am about half done, for those out there that are interested. I havent forgotten, just had a few RL snafu's to deal with. Its told from the POV of a child and I am experimenting with the way to incorporate the POV's of different characters. Hope you like it when it comes out.
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Jaratsri
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Posted - 2008.08.02 11:09:00 -
[20]
Just read your tale, wow, truly powerful stuff right here.
To make your reader feel strained in the eyes of sadness or making a evil smirk when retribution came to the raiders, thatĘs a real writers gift, I will be looking for more of your stories, keep it up for as long as it is fun for you, it was a pleasure reading it for me.
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