Difference between revisions of "Korax of Balic"
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:''"He could have lived in peace without incurring any reproaches or any harm, but he chose to make war. He could have lived a life of ease, but he preferred a hard life with warfare. He could have had money and security, but he chose to make the money he had less, by engaging in war. Indeed, he liked spending money on war just as one might spend it on love affairs or any other pleasure.'' | :''"He could have lived in peace without incurring any reproaches or any harm, but he chose to make war. He could have lived a life of ease, but he preferred a hard life with warfare. He could have had money and security, but he chose to make the money he had less, by engaging in war. Indeed, he liked spending money on war just as one might spend it on love affairs or any other pleasure.'' | ||
| − | :''"All this shows how devoted he was to war. As for his great qualities as a soldier, they appear in the facts that he was fond of adventure, ready to lead an attack on the enemy by day or night, and that, when he was in an awkward position, he kept his head, as everyone agrees who was with him anywhere. It was said that he had all the qualities of leadership which a man of his sort could have. He had an outstanding ability for planning means by which an army could get supplies, and seeing that they appeared; and he was also well able to impress on those who were with that Klearchus was a man to be obeyed. He achieved this result by his toughness. He had a forbidding appearance and a harsh voice. His punishments were severe ones and were sometimes inflicted in anger, so that there were times when he was sorry himself for what he had done. With him punishment was a matter of principle, for he | + | :''"All this shows how devoted he was to war. As for his great qualities as a soldier, they appear in the facts that he was fond of adventure, ready to lead an attack on the enemy by day or night, and that, when he was in an awkward position, he kept his head, as everyone agrees who was with him anywhere. It was said that he had all the qualities of leadership which a man of his sort could have. He had an outstanding ability for planning means by which an army could get supplies, and seeing that they appeared; and he was also well able to impress on those who were with him that Klearchus was a man to be obeyed. He achieved this result by his toughness. He had a forbidding appearance and a harsh voice. His punishments were severe ones and were sometimes inflicted in anger, so that there were times when he was sorry himself for what he had done. With him punishment was a matter of principle, for he thought that an army without discipline was good for nothing; indeed, it is reported that he said that a soldier ought to be more frightened of his own commander than of the enemy.'' |
| − | :''"It was for these traits that in difficult positions soldiers would give him complete confidence and wished for no one better. On these occasions, they said that his forbidding look seemed positively cheerful, and his toughness appeared as confidence in the face of the enemy, so that it was no longer toughness to them but something to make them feel safe. On the other hand, when the danger was over and there was a chance of going away to take service under someone else, many of them deserted him, since, so far from having anything attractive about him, he was invariably tough and savage, so that the relations between his soldiers and him were like those of boys to a | + | :''"It was for these traits that in difficult positions soldiers would give him complete confidence and wished for no one better. On these occasions, they said that his forbidding look seemed positively cheerful, and his toughness appeared as confidence in the face of the enemy, so that it was no longer toughness to them but something to make them feel safe. On the other hand, when the danger was over and there was a chance of going away to take service under someone else, many of them deserted him, since, so far from having anything attractive about him, he was invariably tough and savage, so that the relations between his soldiers and him were like those of boys to a schoolmaster.'' |
| − | :''"Thus it came about that he never had followers who were there because of friendship or good feeling towards him. On the other hand, he exacted complete obedience from all who were put under his command by their cities or who served with him because of poverty or under some other compulsion. Then, once they began to win victories with him, one could see how important were the factors which made his men | + | :''"Thus it came about that he never had followers who were there because of friendship or good feeling towards him. On the other hand, he exacted complete obedience from all who were put under his command by their cities or who served with him because of poverty or under some other compulsion. Then, once they began to win victories with him, one could see how important were the factors which made his men into good soldiers. They had the advantage of being confident in the face of the enemy, and they were disciplined because they were afraid of his punishments. As a commander, then, this was what he was like; but he was said not to be very fond of serving under anybody else's command."'' |
::-the old Archilochias of 2nd Banda of House Euraxis, Chenophon the Old | ::-the old Archilochias of 2nd Banda of House Euraxis, Chenophon the Old | ||
Latest revision as of 06:49, 7 March 2016
Korax of Balic, 3rd level lawful evil male human myrmidon, Lochias (Sergeant) in the Army of House Euraxis, Section Leader in the 5th Banda
Contents
Vital Statistics and Basic Information
Str 19 Dex 16 Con 20 Int 15 Wis 18 Cha 17
Age: 23
Non-Weapon Proficiencies
armorer (secondary proficiency + 2 slots), ancient Balican military history (2 slots), contact (1 slot), endurance (2 slots), armor optimization (1 slot), heat protection (1 slot)
Personal Appearance/Physical Description
?
Birthmark: geometric sleeves from hand to shoulder and down his back and across his chest and down to the ass
Family
Birth Mother: Korana
Father: unknown
Wet Nurse/"Life Mother": Maenda the Dwarf
Background/History
Early Childhood
Korax was born within the farmlands of the patrician House Euraxis within the territories of the city-state of Balic. Korax would later learn that his mother is Korana, a slave-servant within the palace of House Euraxis. Korax does not know who his father was. Korana did not raise or nurture the infant Korax, as he was taken from her shortly after birth and raised in the farms. It was only later that Korax would learn about his real mother.
Korax was raised a farmer in harsh and brutal conditions. He was treated as a communal boy in the all-slave community, and only had direct support from his slave wet-nurse, a middle-aged dwarfess named Maenda, who was more of a mother to Korax than any other individual. Maenda saw that Korax and the other bastard boys she raised were well-fed, and that they became strong so that they would be selected for soldier training when the officers came to make their picks.
Korax would have very dim memories of the Peninsula Rampage in Free Year 1, in which many of the slave farmers were killed by giants of the Silt Sea.
Selected Soldier-Slave
When he was six years old, Korax made the first pick by the officers, as he was already very strong and had what the slaves called "dwarf's blood", for any scratches or bruises he would suffer would disappear remarkably fast, and because he had never been sick. He was placed at first in 2nd Banda (company), and was educated by their sub-altern officer named Rykurgus, a Balican citizen and poor member of the patrician class. Rykurgas was strict and organized, but never punished the boys himself. When a boy troubled him, he would simply continue on with his lesson. It was only later that a lochias or leader (sergeant) would appear and severely punish the boys that might have acted poorly. Korax would have learned to fear and respect the lochias class of soldiers at this time. Rykurgas taught the boys many things, but most importantly of all was a slavish devotion to House Euraxis, and that the boys were destined to either die or earn glory under Lord Euraxis' commands.
When Korax was twelve, he graduated from the schooling of Rykurgas to that of the lochias in his banda and the banda commander himself, Tisernes. Training became much harsher, but Korax excelled, being named the student-lochias of his class.
Towards the end of this training, Korax, as a leading member of his class, was very irregularly taken from his banda, and moved to the battle-damaged 5th Banda, under the elderly mul lochagos (captain) Brasthes. Brasthes was exceptionally harsh and cruel, and even killed several of the valuable slave-soldiers in training as an example, having them crucified for the boys to see the price of disobedience. Brasthes for a time even targeted Korax, one time subjecting the teenager to a gauntlet of blows from his fellow apprentice soldiers, many of whom were jealous of Korax's gifts. Korax survived however, and eventually the lawful evil mul Brasthes left the 5th Banda, having been promoted to the rank of spatharios or "sword-bearer" (major).
Korax's First War, Dynastic Dispute and the First Promotion of Korax
At fifteen years old, in Free Year 11, a petty war developed between two of the three great merchant dynasties which ruled Balic, House Rees and House Tomblador. These two great merchant dynasties rallied the noble families who were noble to them. The heir apparent to House Euraxis, Lord Ekirax, sided House Euraxis with House Tomblador, against the advice of his younger sister, Lady Everane. Needing soldiers, Lord Ekirax graduated Korax and many of his companions early, so that they might participate in the war. Korax served well in this campaign, and despite his youth killed several enemy soldiers and an infamous epi-lochias (over-sergeant) of a rival patrician house. These actions made Korax the most popular and respected of the new slave-soldiers. Nonetheless, House Tomblador lost the war, and in suing for peace with House Rees, the noble houses allied to House Tomblador had to pay a large indemnity to House Rees.
As a result of this loss, there was a dispute within the family of House Euraxis. Lady Everane called on Brasthes to call upon the soldiers loyal to him over the soldiers of the chiliarch (regimental commander). As there was much confusion on this day, Brasthes approached Korax along with Lady Everane, whom Korax had never before met in person. The beautiful young lady, who was hardly older than Korax himself, appealed to him, and said that he had many friends among the new soldiers, and that he had their admiration and respect, and would listen to him. She asked Korax to support her over her brother, Lord Ekirax, who had been foolish and had chosen the loosing side of a war, whereas she would have chose the winning side. Korax did as she asked.
Lord Ekirax lost his position bloodlessly, and Lady Everane instead gained the approval of her grandfather for becoming the new de facto leader of House Euraxis. Korax was made a dekarch (corporal) for his support, which was unheard of, given his age. Brasthes himself was made the de facto commander of the house army. All the slave-soldiers were paid a generous donative for their loyalty.
Assignments and Campaigns of Korax
Given nine young soldiers under him, Korax was made to patrol the slave farms lands for several years. He inflicted punishments upon the slaves, and performed as a field overseer. His parts of the fields had a better output, and he prevented theft, runaways and stopped the kidnapping of slaves by rival houses.
During this time, Korax went on his first rotation to patrol the perimeter of Balic's domain against the possible appearance of a giant raiding army.
In Free Year 17, Korax went with 4th and 5th Banda to board the Balican fleet as marines, where they served alongside the soldiers, some free and some not, of several other noble houses. They disembarked on strange islands, and demanded the obedience of men, and took much of their food and livestock. On one such island, they were attacked by a tribe of lightning fast lizard-like silt runners, but Korax and his squad prevailed.
Also in Free Year 17, Korax was involved in a large military campaign sponsored by the three great merchant dynasties of Balic against an army of gith and other desert raiders that were threatening many of Balic's outer farms and villages. After the initial battle, the gith broke off into squadrons. The Balican general made several ad hoc bandas of picked-men to follow the gith out into the hills and hunt them down. Korax was picked, and went on a roving march against the raiders, enduring many hardships and engaging in several melees.
In Free Year 18, Korax was involved in suppressing a mob and slave rebellion in the House Tomblador portion of Balic itself.
Later in Free Year 18, an exiled Balican strategos (general) named Zanthiros gained the support of several noble houses and made an attempt to march on Balic to take over the government. The great merchant dynasties were taken unawares, and few preparations were possible. In a night maneuver, House Euraxis joined several other noble armies in defeating this force. Korax led one of the ad hoc ambushes, and with his squad captured one of the offending noblemen, but not before killing many. Although General Zanthiros escaped, the traitorous noble houses that had helped him were liquidated, and their lands were granted to those families that remained loyal. For capturing the nobleman, Korax was given a significant cash award, and not long afterward was made a lochias (sergeant) for his endeavors.
Armorer
While still in training, Korax was given the extra responsibility of learning the skill of armorer from the army's master armorer, Gaeolan. A freedman, Gaeolan had never been a soldier, but knew the art of making armor quite well. Gaeolan knew many stories, and understood much about the world, and Korax went often to learn how to repair and rebuilding armor. Korax continued to go to Gaeolan for several years, and became himself a master in the craft, pouring much of his free time into the learning of how not just to repair but also how to create descent armor. Korax helped make several suits of heavy armor for the officers. In Free Year 18, Gaeolan's eyesight became too pour to work, and at the old man's request, Korax ended his life.
Chronology
Born in Free Year -4, The Year of Enemy's Agitation, the 21st Year of the 190th King's Age, on the 12th of Fortuary
Free Year (FY) 1: Korax begins soldier training at the age of five under the old mul officer Brasthes, commander of the 5th banda (company) of the army of House Euraxis.
FY 11: At 15 years old, Korax completes his training and becomes an elite slave-soldier.
House Euraxis
Patrician House, Ancient Polemarch Family
Official Patriarch: Lord Kythenes Euraxis
Acting Matriarch: Lady Everane Euraxis
Other Family Members: Lord Ekirax Euraxis
Colors: a downward facing gold sword, piercing a serpent's gold skull; all on a black field (the banner is usually long and narrow)
Army of House Euraxis
The army is organized into a chiliarchy (regiment). It is divided into five "banda" or companies, each ranging from about 25 through 50 soldiers each. Altogether there are roughly 220 soldiers or less in the House Euraxis army proper, not counting the House Guard and chariot squadron.
The soldiers of the house army are generally armed in the classic Balican fashion: an obsidian headed long spear (12 feet long, for fighting giants), a bone dagger, a large wooden body shield, and studded leather armor reinforced with bone and chitin. The house army also has a wide selection of other weapons available to its soldiers for alternate campaigns and styles of fighting, including smaller shields. These alternate weapons are assigned to soldiers. Slave-soldiers assigned the long sword are so assigned for clearly observed and assessed leadership potential. When not in battle dress, they wear black-dyed chitons.
House Euraxis maintains about twenty war chariots, ridden by citizens from Balic.
As is the law, House Euraxis can equip its slave population as militia, arming them with long spears from Gulg, in case of a giant attack or other emergency. The professional slave-soldiers drill the inferior slaves. They also loosely train the slaves with the short bow.
Slave-soldiers for House Euraxis have the possibility of attaining freedom. After 25 years, if their record of service is good, they can be freed by the acting patriarch or matriarch of the family. After 30 years, and sometimes sooner, slave-soldiers may become officers for the House Army, serving beside junior officer free citizens of Balic. Former slave officers first serve as the Shield Bearer for the family, usually for about a year, as they adjust to life as an officer.
The House Euraxis army does not spend money on regular uniforms. Their left arms bear the branding of the patrician house, which the slave-soldiers often adorn with tattoos.
Rank insignia is done with simple paint, often somewhat crudely, and placed wherever is convenient, often on shoulder plates.
House soldiers have dictatorial authority over junior soldiers, but only officers have the power of execution. Leaders may execute only if an officer is not present and cannot be found.
Rank Structure
Officers
- chiliarch or "commander of a thousand" (regimental commander, three gold swords, with the center sword piercing a gold serpent skull)
- pentakosiarch or "commander of five hundred" (vice-regimental commander, three gold swords)
- spatharios or "sword bearer" (major, staff officer, gold sword into a gold serpent skull)
- lochagos (captain, two gold swords)
- upo-lochagos (under-captain, one gold sword)
- acolyte (subaltern officer, no rank insignia)
Leaders (lochias)
- archilochias (arch-sergeant, two crossed silver swords with a third falling between them into a gold serpent skull)
- epilochias (over-sergeant, two crossed silver swords)
- lochias (sergeant, one silver sword)
Junior Leaders (upo-lochias)
- dekarch, "leader of ten" (corporal, one black sword into a gold serpent skull)
- under-dekarch (private first class, one black sword)
- --
- soldier
Leadershp Biographies
The Chiliarch, or Commander of the Army of House Euraxis: Eprox of House Euraxis (former templar; administrator)
- Description: Eprox is a member of an important cadet branch of House Euraxis. Although of patrician rank, his status is that of knight in the city. Eprox in fact was a knight or templar of the city in previous times, serving in the naucraries (district police) and then as one of the prytaneis or leaders of the Boule, or council body of the templars of Balic. In the last great election, Eprox ran for one of the seats of the Thesmothetai, or archons of Balic. He lost this election, and was instead given command of the family army. Eprox is an older man in his early 60s. He has a psionic wild talent which turns him into a serpent-man of considerable power. Eprox is not a skilled warrior.
The Pentakosiarch, or Vice-Commander of the Army of House Euraxis: Brasthes
- Description: Brasthes is a cruel and evil mul, but he is fair. Brasthes finished house training and achieved soldier status at the age of 15. He served for forty years as a slave-soldier for House Euraxis, achieving the rank of archilochias (arch-sergeant). Brasthes was demoted several times during his long tenure as a soldier-slave, being accused of and punished for cruelty and recklessness on several occasions. He was nearly freed at 30 years of service without the opportunity for officer status by the house patriarch, but the Shield Bearer of the house vouched for Brasthes, and he was allowed to stay another ten years to prove himself. At 40 years, he was at last freed and given the position of a upo-lochagos (under-captain).
- Four years later, Brasthes was given command of the new fifth banda (company). In the Year of Priest's Defiance (Free Year 1), a massive invasion by giants called the Peninsula Rampage, in which the whole of the peninsula was raided by a large force of giants, caused massive damage to the Balican military, including the army of House Euraxis. Many officers were killed, but Brasthes performed well, dealing the fatal blow to a giant who had dared invade House Euraxis lands.
- After this, Brasthes had to rebuild his shattered company, and so recruited young boys from the noble estate's farms. Brasthes preferred mul and dwarven boys, and convinced the House army to pay for many new slaves, but reluctantly took in human boys, whom he considered less reliable. Korax was chosen during this time. Brasthes treated Korax poorly for many years.
- By Free Year 11, Brasthes became the confident of young Lady Everane, a possible heir apparent to House Euraxis. She quickly compelled her father to appoint Brasthes a spatharios or "sword-bearer" (major) for the family, much to the anger of her elder brother Ekirax. In early Free Year 13, Brasthes favored Lady Everane over Lord Ekirax in a succession dispute. Brasthes was popular with the company commanders, and used them to stand down the chiliarch (regimental commander) when he backed Ekirax instead of Everane. Lady Everane was made the official heir-apparent by her weakening grandfather, Lord Kythenes.
- In Free Year 14, Lord Kythenes appointed Eprox, a distant family member, as the chiliarch (regimental commander) of House Euraxis. Believing Eprox not capable of managing the house army, Lady Everane compelled her grandfather to retire the current deputy commander of the chiliarchy, and replace him with Brasthes.
House Guard
As a unit separate from the house army, the House Guard consists of roughly 25 guards, who are necessary all free citizens (preferred) or who are at least of freedmen status.
Commander of the House Guard: Lochagos of the House Guard Eubristes
Current Status of the Army
On 20 Hexameron, Free Year 19 [roughly two months before game play], the famous ex-slave gladiator general Xal'gren took the city-state of Balic. He accomplished this with the help of House Wavir, one of the three great merchant dynasties that have controlled the city since Free Year 10. Of the other two great houses, House Tomblador, a strong supporter of slavery, fled, leaving all the noble houses, lesser merchant houses and common citizens that supported them in the lurch. The other great house, House Rees, has been allowed to continue its operations in the city, although it is now certainly the junior partner to House Wavir.
Once Lady Everane took the helm of House Euraxis, the Euraxians switched their allegiance from House Tomblador to House Rees.
When Xal'gren assumed the Dictatorship and proclaimed the immediate emancipation of all slaves, Lady Everane neither contradicted nor confirmed the mandate. When the initial conquest of the slave army died down, Lady Everane instead proposed that the patricians (the nobility) offer their former slaves positions similar to those they had in a servile state. In return, Lady Everane suggested, the nobility would pay wages and incomes, although she of course fully intends to place rents upon and tax those who dwell on her lands. In response to this, the slave general Xal'gren has said surprisingly little, only acting when the patrician houses refused to actually liberate their slaves. Xal'gren has however broken up many of the noble estates known for their cruelty and extremes in slavery, especially those noble houses once loyal to House Tomblador. This worries Lady Everane.
Along with a number of other noble families and their patron merchant dynasty House Rees, House Euraxis has tacitly supported the dictatorship of Xal'gren. House Euraxis has even supported Xal'gren militarily. The 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th banda of House Euraxis and the forces of other noble families has joined the House Rees army in assisting Xal'gren defeat a powerful rebel general named Xyestes. The House Euraxis force is under Brasthes.
The 5th Banda: Korax's Company
- The 5th Banda is used as an elite strike force and ambushing unit. It used such principally due to Korax, who is capable of leading some of the best House Euraxis' troops. Since the declaration of general emancipation by Xal'gren, three soldiers have "betrayed" their oaths to House Euraxis and escaped the army and House Euraxis. Others are surely thinking of leaving, but know to keep such thoughts to themselves, for fear of Brasthes. A popular under-dekarch named Paethon is rumored to be whispering ideas of leaving the army of House Euraxis.
5th Banda Statistics
- Officers: 2
- Soldiers: 33 (mostly 1st-2nd level fighters)
- dwarves: 12(9 male, 3 female)
- half-elves: 1
- humans: 16 (13 male, 3 female)
- muls: 4 (3 male, 1 female)
Banda Commander: Lochagos (Captain) Stymphus
- Description: Stymphus is a direct commission officer of the order of knights. A city-dweller by birth, Stymphus received his commission because he served in the regular Balican army at the perimeter fortresses for several years. Stymphus has been with House Euraxis for seven years.
Epilochias (over-sergeant) Kaanaster: Kaanaster is the senior leader in the 5th Banda. Kaanaster was hit in the face with an axe not so many years ago, and is missing an eye and otherwise looks dreadful. Kaanaster is old and a wounded veteran, and no longer holds the front lines unless necessary. Kaanaster now usually serves best offering advise to his commander and his subordinate lochia.
Korax's Lochos (war band)
By order of Brasthes and because he is a favorite of Lady Everane, Korax has been given a large lochos or band of soldiers. Chosen in part for their speed, most of these soldiers are quite young. Brexar is one of the few in the lochos who has been one of the house soldiers longer than Korax
Lochos Statistics
- dwarves: 8 (6 male, 2 female)
- half-elves: 1
- humans: 14 (12 male, 2 female)
- muls: 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Brexar's Dekarchy (squad): 13 soldiers
- Brexar, 3rd level LE dwarf male, dekarch
- Acostis, 2nd level CE dwarf male, under-dekarch
- 7 dwarves
- 5 humans (4 male, one female)
Iphian's Dekarchy (squad): 9 soldiers
- Iphian, 3rd level LN half-elf fighter, dekarch
- Ovost, 2nd level N female mul, under-dekarch (WT: disintegrate)
- 5 humans (4 male, 1 female)
- 2 muls (one male, one female)
Ancient Legends and History of Balic
From his early youth, Korax displayed a fascination with the grand legends and stories of the ancient military history of Balic. Although the Dictator of Balic Androponis had forbidden the art of reading to all but patricians and knights since time immemorial, Balicans nevertheless keep a very strong tradition of oral histories and legends in their culture, and most every common citizen and even slave therefore knows many of the great and legendary (perhaps mythica) heroes of an ancient world long past. Korax himself however gloried in the strictly military histories, and especially those oral histories that told more reliable and believable accounts of generals, soldiers and mercenaries and avoided the fantastic and unbelievable stories of gods, enchanted heroes and krakens from the Silt Sea.
Korax learned most of his knowledge on these affairs from the wise human slave-soldier archlochias (arch-sergeant) named Chenophon the Old, who would tell war stories at night campfires to the boy slave-soldiers in training.
A few of the stories and selections of military lore Korax knows are recounted below.
Klearchus, Ancient Mercenary Strategos from Balic
- "He could have lived in peace without incurring any reproaches or any harm, but he chose to make war. He could have lived a life of ease, but he preferred a hard life with warfare. He could have had money and security, but he chose to make the money he had less, by engaging in war. Indeed, he liked spending money on war just as one might spend it on love affairs or any other pleasure.
- "All this shows how devoted he was to war. As for his great qualities as a soldier, they appear in the facts that he was fond of adventure, ready to lead an attack on the enemy by day or night, and that, when he was in an awkward position, he kept his head, as everyone agrees who was with him anywhere. It was said that he had all the qualities of leadership which a man of his sort could have. He had an outstanding ability for planning means by which an army could get supplies, and seeing that they appeared; and he was also well able to impress on those who were with him that Klearchus was a man to be obeyed. He achieved this result by his toughness. He had a forbidding appearance and a harsh voice. His punishments were severe ones and were sometimes inflicted in anger, so that there were times when he was sorry himself for what he had done. With him punishment was a matter of principle, for he thought that an army without discipline was good for nothing; indeed, it is reported that he said that a soldier ought to be more frightened of his own commander than of the enemy.
- "It was for these traits that in difficult positions soldiers would give him complete confidence and wished for no one better. On these occasions, they said that his forbidding look seemed positively cheerful, and his toughness appeared as confidence in the face of the enemy, so that it was no longer toughness to them but something to make them feel safe. On the other hand, when the danger was over and there was a chance of going away to take service under someone else, many of them deserted him, since, so far from having anything attractive about him, he was invariably tough and savage, so that the relations between his soldiers and him were like those of boys to a schoolmaster.
- "Thus it came about that he never had followers who were there because of friendship or good feeling towards him. On the other hand, he exacted complete obedience from all who were put under his command by their cities or who served with him because of poverty or under some other compulsion. Then, once they began to win victories with him, one could see how important were the factors which made his men into good soldiers. They had the advantage of being confident in the face of the enemy, and they were disciplined because they were afraid of his punishments. As a commander, then, this was what he was like; but he was said not to be very fond of serving under anybody else's command."
- -the old Archilochias of 2nd Banda of House Euraxis, Chenophon the Old
Korax's Mother: Korana
During a recent visit to Balic, shortly before Xal'gren took over the city, Korax was approached by a beautiful woman in her mid-30s. Calling herself Korana, she claimed she was Korax's mother, that she had escaped slavery many years ago, and that she wished to make amends with Korax for her long absence. She explained she had traveled abroad, to the city-states of Gulg and Nibenay, but that she had now returned. She claimed that in a short while, Korax would be free, and that he could join her and help her in her cause by drawing a particular sign along a particular wall in one part of the city...
