Veren Veterans
The Veren Veteran community have trouble fitting in with the reserved Veren. The reason for this is twofold: One, PTSD and other issues that would cause emotional instability are heavily looked down upon in Veren culture; Two, the Nobility dislike populations of enhanced humans gathering prestige in civilian population.
The powers that be use superstition to suppress the human and mar veteran popuations.
Luca stood on a cliff that overlooked the valley, dead filled it in patches like drying water in a swear. He wondered Veren hated its veterans so. Luca's men had all fought and bleed for the empire in a dozen different wars. They paid their price, and were owed riches,land and glory. What did they get in return? Noble troops attacking their settlements, because of superstitious civilians. Heroes being mobbed and harassed by constables for little reason. Land so barren they had to fight as mercenaries in a pointless war to survive.
The church taught the emotional Ideals for soldiers. Citizens were raised on the stories of stoic men and women facing down unspeakable horrors without fear. Statues made manifest marching in perfect unison. They couldn't handle the truth. The truth of men screaming themselves to sleep. They would never under stand of a blacksmiths hammer could send a scarred legionary into a panic, or the sound of braying horses could cause a man to collapse. It shattered the perfect illusion that the nobility wanted to keep.
Rejected from society they left. His town was like dozens of others around the empire. Remains of old cohorts and armies gathering in forsaken land to live their own lives. They didn't want any trouble, Luca could go the rest of his life without picking up a sword. However, nobles couldn't leave them well enough alone. They would find some reason to take the settlement, usually lies made by agents in nearby communities.
Luca had enough. This was there third village that had been attacked. The first two had surrended peacfully, and the legionaries kicked out. This time, they would learn what happens when you betray soldiers. They had made the Noble troops pay. The Mercantile disruption had provided a perfect excuse for the slaughter. Luca would school the empire in war. He had become an expert in the service of the legion, now he would bring his lessons on those who abused him and his friends. Luca turned to his legion. The men were arrayed in perfect ranks. Yes, these men are perfect for the job.
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