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[Jaxon Yrre]

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*OOC note: this piece was written for me by another player in October 2007 as background for a new character I created but had no story for. aside from the names, there are no changes from the original sent to me at that time. this particular Umbra was on Lake Superior shard, not Atlantic.*

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A brave knight of the former Royal Guard, Jaxon and five others were ordered to gather intelligence on Imperial activities near Umbra. On the third day they were ambushed by soldiers of the Cimmerian Empire. Outnumbered, they were orderd to flee by their commander - all but one. Knight Jaxon was ordered to stay behind to protect the retreat. Having always held the virtues true to his heart, the Captain fought with all his valor. Badly outnumbered, one of the enemy soldiers slipped behind Jaxon and cracked him over the head with a war hammer. Luckily, the Captain's helmet absorbed most of the blow, saving his life. Taken into custody by the Empire's soldiers, he was stripped naked and thrown into a cold, damp cell.

Constant interrogation and torture followed for what seemed an eternity. Even under these cruel conditions, however, Jaxon held faith that any day he would be rescued by the Guard, or at least some type of terms for his release would soon be agreed upon. Weeks turned into months, months into years, his faith in the Royal Guard and the virtues faltering.

For six years Jaxon remained in that hell hole, barely alive, suffering extreme sickness, starvation and finally a complete mental breakdown, his will to live all but gone. As the years rolled on, the Empire started to crumble due to lack of people and the resources needed to even field a small army. Riots and protests started to form, the Empire on the verge of a full-blown rebellion.

It was not until the first rebellion that Jaxon learned the truth of his situation. Rebels against the Empress managed to break into the prison, their goal to rescue their captured comrade. One rebel made it to Jaxson's cell. As he looked the nearly dead man over, he spoke to him. "You are that Guard knight who was traded for six years ago, aren't you?"

Barely able to understand what he was hearing, let alone respond, Jaxon managed to ask, "What do you mean, traded?"

The rebel paused for a moment. "Oh, that's right. No way for you to have known. Well, about six years ago one of our generals made a deal with your Guard's commander - Grand Marshal...or was it High Marshal - something like that, but I don't recall his name. Anyway, he was captured by our forces and in an agreement between our Impercial Council and your ruling Council, your Marshal was released. The terms were that your government would furnish us with twelve strong slaves. I believe that you were the seventh or eighth. I don't know why they kept you in prison for all these years. Kind of defeats the purpose of the agreement, but I do know that you are the only one of the twelve who survived.

Shocked, confused, betrayed, Jaxon could not believe this, but in the back of his mind he knew it had to be true. Why else was no rescue attempt ever made? Why was it only he was chosen to stay behind? Why would the ruling Council order his unit to spy on Umbra in the first place?

As the sound of battle came closer, the rebel informed Jaxon he would try to rescue him. The lock clicked as the cell door opened. "Get up, we don't have much time." Lifting him up, he dragged Jaxon through the prison corridor. Meeting up with the rest of his unit there was a discussion of why this Royal Guard scum was saved. With some argument but finally an agreement, the rebels propped Jaxon on a horse and took him away.

Making it into the corrupted forest, the rebels shoved Jaxon from the mount informing him that this was as far as they would take him and that his best chance would be to hide out in Umbra or try to make his way to Luna, but that would be extremely dangerous as the entire Imperial Army was recalled to the capital and all entry to Luna would be impassable, guarded.

Jaxon went with his best option, making his way to Umbra where he ended up living in the streets and side passages, eating what food was thrown out or given him. He smelled, was unshaven, his hair grown down to his backside. He was a breeding ground for lice and other parasites. Unable to seek medical treatment, never able to bathe, he dwelt in the most deplorable conditions one could imagine. Less than a bum, he was treatd harshly by the citizens and city guard. The Imperial soldiers often kicked him as they passed him by. The imprisonment, torture, abuse - none of it mattered. His only festering need was revenge against the very people who had caused him to be where he was.

Many months passed since the rebels rescued him. The city was in total chaos, martial law declared and any who did not acknowledge the rule of the Empress were murdered. Rebel attacks against Imperial soldiers increased as did the many failed assassination attempts upon the Empress. Then one day a rider made it past the guards, riding into the city making the following announcement . . .

Loyal citizens of the Cimmerian Empire!
I am the envoy of the one true Emperor, Lord Makush Sutekh!
Your Imperator has returned and he is near!
He calls upon all true citizens of the Empire to rise up and join him!
In one week the Imperator will lead an attack on Umbra! He will free you! He will kill the liar who claims herself Empress!
In one week you shall be liberated, order shall be restored, your true father will take his rightful place on the throne!
In the name of the one true Emperor and the Imperator!
In one week!

The rider then made haste to escape the city. Much talk was heard, many citizens started to rally in support of the news. Jaxon believed he'd heard these names before, but was unable to place them. Many thoughts ran through his head.

Would he use the confusion to escape back to Luna and seek revenge? Maybe he no longer cared and would rather just die in the streets. Should he enlist in the Imperial Army and hope for a favorable outcome, eventually using his position with the Empire to strike at those who'd betrayed him? No matter what choice he made, the fact remained he was weak, very sick, lucky to crawl half an inch let alone hope to fight in a battle. He needed medical care, a bath, food, a warm place to sleep, a weapon.

Time was short. Would he even survive one more week?!

*to continue*

[Jaxon Yrre]

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*the following is merely a continuance of the tale written by myself alone*


Several days passed. Jaxon languished near death.

"I know you!" a voice hovered above him through the mists clouding his mind. He looked up to find the Imperator himself standing near. "It was a very long time ago, but our paths indeed did once cross, as did our blades. Captain Yrre, is it?"

Jaxon scowled, his answer a wheezing expectoration of phlegm upon the cobblestones.

The Imperator laughed. Reaching down to grab a handful of greasy, lice infested hair, he jerked Jaxon's head up until their eyes met. "Look where your virtues have gotten you, soldier. I'd be willing to wager you won't live to see another sunrise, unless . . . " He paused, giving his silence a moment of drama before continuing. " . . . unless you'd like a chance to change that outcome by agreeing to come with me, join your skills with those of the Empire, fight for the right cause this time around."

Too weak to respond, Jaxon struggled to achieve a slight nod of his head before losing consciousness.

His return to wakefulness brought Jaxon to the realization of a soft mattress beneath his aching body, the warmth of a fire blazing in the hearth of a well furnished bedchamber and a tray of food waiting for him on the table in the corner of the room.

"Welcome to your new life, Captain." Startled by the unexpected voice, Jaxon pulled himself up from the pillow to see the Imperator standing against the wall with arms crossed over his chest, watching him with a satisfied grin. "You've made the right choice."

"Hardly seems like a choice at all, but it'll do . . . for now."

The Imperator's laughter rang out in a loud peal of malevolent hilarity. "Don't push your good fortune. Eat. Regain your strength. Soon I will bring you to bow down before the Emperor."

> > >

Over the next few months Jaxon did indeed regain himself, his 6 foot 3 inch frame once more resplendent in musculature and strength. Choosing to learn seamanship rather than return to duty as a foot soldier, he served the Cimmerian Empire aboard ship as a member of its navy. Before long, however, he came to the conclusion that serving under another would never provide him the means to the end he was seeking, so one cloudless night he stole away from Umbra, never to be seen by the Empire again. Going rogue, he procured a crew of his own, commandeering a vessel and taking to the sea as a privateer, a deep rooted desire for revenge ever poised at the forefront of his longing.