Fida

From FiranMUX

Overview

LADY FIDA IBERIK

Born before the Exodus and during times when even the Seven Heroes were young and relatively unknown, Lady Fida Iberik had quite a charmed and rather affluent life. A handmaiden to Princess Sarci and member of the Bear Clan, she met Lord Zakariah Iberik while still a young maiden. Helplessly in love, or so the stories go, she left the Bears and became a loyal woman of the Eagle Clan when it was still lead by Clan Leader Darimon. She bore two children during the marriage, Lady Nalia and Lord Inarus, the only of several who survived. Like many during those times, Lady Fida doubted the tales of the Shamibelians Elianos told of when he returned from his quest. It would be a decision many would not live long enough to regret. The chaos was great when the invasion came and Lady Fida refused to leave before finding her beloved children. She was captured while searching for them, never knowing that her children had made it onto one of the boats.

Amazing many, Lady Fida Iberik returned to Anarinuell with a small group of escaped slaves. It seemed like a true miracle when she came into the forum and spoke of what had happened to her. Reuniting with her children seemed a happy ending to a long and suffered life. It would be in that very forum, however, that Lady Fida would meet her death. In the spring of 27 A.U., she made a speech announcing herself to be a Priestess of the Dark Lord's Temple. An admitted Drikkist! This caused quite an outrage, of course, and a mob was quickly formed around her. This is where the stories of what happened get mired. All that is known for sure is that she died, whether by mortal hands or divine ones will likely always be debated. She is survived by her children, Lady Nalia and Lord Inarus, as well as the rest of the noble Iberik family.

'The Final Speech'

The elderly Iberik woman steps forward to look at the stunned crowd. "I come before you today with the permission of Clan Leader Inaya, the High Priestess over the Firan realms. I come to address a slight that has lasted too long.

"Many cry out at the destruction of Soli's temple, speak of what a terrible thing it is that the followers of one deity of the pantheon are denied a place of worship. But one of the pantheon has been forgotten and forsaken for even longer...so long that even the proper methods of his worship have been forgotten! And this is a terrible shame."

The elderly woman holds up one hand, marked with a Shamibelian slave brand. "I was taken well over two decades ago, taken when my son and daughter were still but children. I was held a slave, used, separated from my husband. And through it, I hated the beasts that had captured me. I hated them more than I had believed I could ever hate something. But I savored that hate, controlled it rather than allowing it to consume me. I sharpened it into a blade that someday would cut me to freedom... and then I understood the truth. That love and hatred are but two sides of the same thing, of passion; love left unchecked can destroy lives as surely as uncontrolled rage and hatred. And controlled rage, turned on the horned enemies of our people, is as powerful a thing as the most brilliant love."

Fida pauses, and smiles at the crowd. "And He saw that I understood, and he came to me. And I tried to spread his word among the Shamibelians, to turn them off the twisted and perverted form of worship they believed honored him. To return them to the roots of His word. And their priests saw that I knew the truth, and they feared me. They dared not harm my followers or I, for they knew we were in His sight...and they cast us out onto the Bonduin plains in hopes that we would die there. But He saved us, and saw us home safely to bring the truth of His word to the Firan people.

"For to deny him his place in the pantheon is to deny rage and hatred as a part of yourself. And if you do not accept what you feel, then you cannot control it...and it will consume you. That is his truth; not the twisted forms of murder and perverted worship than some believe...but simply that you must take your hatred, accept it, embrace it as part of yourself, and turn it on our enemies as a weapon."

She lowers her hand, and adds, "We will spread his word. I thank the Temple of Eesha for granting us land to build His temple, and the Temples of Firanos and Elik for pledging funds towards construction, as well as High Priestess Inaya for permission to announce the restoration of our Order. Should others wish to hear more of Drik's word before the temple is completed, they have but to ask me and I will be quite pleased to speak to them. Too long has his worship been neglected. Too long has it been misunderstood and therefore feared.

"It is time that all ended."

And then Fida falls silent, that enigmatic little half-smile still in place beneath emerald gaze, hinting of mysteries still to be unraveled by those who would seek her god's truth.