| Masaw, Caliph of Alamut |
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| In dark times, people will cling to whatever gives them hope. So it was with Masaw, and so will it be 'till the end of his days. Growing up in the northern hills of Rheged was not easy for a young boy, having to fight off lawless Eirish and Saecsen invaders, sickness and starvation, but under the tutelage of his father he came to know the skills and principals he would need to survive. Chief among those principals, in truth the guiding light of his father and eventually himself, was the pursuit of order. "Chaos is the ultimate evil, Masaw, for nothing exists for long in chaos. All that we have, all that we've fought for will be destroyed or taken when chaos rules. So. The opposite of chaos is order, to achieve order you need control, and to have control you need law. The law is the only thing that stands between men and chaos, amd no man is above the law. So." This principal was not easy to hold to in a lawless land, but as a young man Masaw's renowned adherence to the law became known all over Cornovia, so when he moved into Rheged's capital he was quickly approached by the king, Ligessac. The king knew that Masaw was someone he could trust, someone who would uphold the law with his dying breath, and Masaw became his chief enforcer, chosen to be judge, jury, and when necessary executioner for any man who broke the law. His new position brought him power and wealth, but Masaw always used it justly, and was immune to corruption.He found a mate in a girl named Ceinwyn, whose beauty was known throughout the country, married her, and planned to start a family, but it was at this point that the forces of chaos struck back against their competitor. One evening the king, his liege lord to whom he owed so much, arrived with his bodyguard at Masaw's home. Meade was heavy on the king's breathe as he stumbled into the room. "Masaw, where's that wife of yours? I want her." "How may I serve you my king?" "You may not, Masaw. My bed has grown cold, and only your wife, not you, can warm it for me this night." "You may not have her, lord king. That is against the law, as she is my wife." "I am the law, Masaw, haven't you learned that yet? Held by the guards, Masaw was forced to watch as his wife was dragged off to be the king's plaything. The strongest law that Masaw knew was broken this night- all that was left was his personal law, and that entitled him to revenge. Death came to visit Ligessac that night. Being so close to the king, Masaw knew both how to get in to the fort, and was popular enough with the guards to be given entrance should any challenge him. He crept silently to Ligessac's room, greased the door hinges with fat, and silently opened the door and crept into the room. Rather than give in to the king, Ceinwyn had died on his dagger. Ligessac now crouched over the corpse, giving his back to Masaw and easing the deed. Justice had been done. Masaw walked from the fort with a clear conscience that night, though he knew that Rheged had no place for him now. With no family, he wandered away. His law had been corrupted and in turn destroyed, and now he sought another law to serve, another cause, lest he fall into chaos himself. |