The Life of Savaran
Verse biography chronicling the life of Fredrick Brasden
Explanatory Notes
This text is an English verse narrative telling the biographical history of Lord Fredrick Brasden's career and exploits during the Wars of Princes. It was completed around 980 PCE by the Nehark poet known as Dreamer Alahan, a scribe working on codex recovery at the Washington scriptorium.
Alahan joined Fredrick's war train after meeting him within the Oldsider Scriptorium of the Washington Ruins. Brasden was grateful for Alahan's knowledge of local history, language, and customs and appointed the young scholar as camp scrivener and chronicler for his Expeditionary Force.
During this appointment, Alahan began to write verses about episodes in Fredrick's life which would eventually be compiled as The Life of Savaran. The poem, written in heroic iambic pentameter couplets, is Alahan's attempt to imitate his perception of trans-Atlantic poetic style and renders his subject in the fantasist mode of romance.
The content of the poem is based upon information Alahan gleaned while travelling in Lord Fredrick's retinue during the Retribution War campaign. Indicating a fascination with the eastern world of Europa, the work provides a stylized retelling of numerous conversations and interviews conducted during Alahan's time among the Expeditionary Force.
The narrative is panegyric in tone and presents a distinctly Merikan view of the foreign hero, but Alahan also incorporates a critical voice denouncing the faded idealism of the Nehark people. Through the figure of Lord Frederick, the idealized “Savaran” foreigner, the poet draws contrast with the lapsed moral character of his own countrymen.
The Life of Savaran
A history in seven books
By Dreamer Alahan
The Life of Savaran
Book 2: The Four Heroes Assemble
Book 3: War of the Black Queen
Book 4: The Horde Incursion
Book 5: The Fall of Pershahr
Book 6: Coronation of the Eastern Jewel
Book 7: The Retribution War
Book 1 (excerpt): The Battle of Somerset
In Fabled Albion, sceptered land of kings,
Where the song of Garters and Knights yet rings,
Lord Godric's court of Mortmare's royal race,
Welcomed Barazan, Pershahr's envoy grace.
(5) Now Briton King and Shahanshah profess
A concord of worldly peace and progress.
But their fledgling union was doomed to fail,
Plots of Princes did brotherhood assail,
And left the Shah's legate a martyred shade,
(10) Slain by veiled envy through passions decayed.
Th' envoy's heartbroken son, as Fredrick named,
Vowed vengeance by all gods in heaven famed.
Capetia's crown bore blameless indictment,
Slandered by phony virtues' incitement.
(15) It was a lying recrimination,
Ginned by Princes' false dissimulation.
Thus in Somerset, mortal battle fell,
Snaring serf and king under Princes' spell.
Lord Chamberlain led Britannia's warfare,
(20) And Marshall Pierre the Enfants de guerre
Where the song of Garters and Knights yet rings,
Lord Godric's court of Mortmare's royal race,
Welcomed Barazan, Pershahr's envoy grace.
(5) Now Briton King and Shahanshah profess
A concord of worldly peace and progress.
But their fledgling union was doomed to fail,
Plots of Princes did brotherhood assail,
And left the Shah's legate a martyred shade,
(10) Slain by veiled envy through passions decayed.
Th' envoy's heartbroken son, as Fredrick named,
Vowed vengeance by all gods in heaven famed.
Capetia's crown bore blameless indictment,
Slandered by phony virtues' incitement.
(15) It was a lying recrimination,
Ginned by Princes' false dissimulation.
Thus in Somerset, mortal battle fell,
Snaring serf and king under Princes' spell.
Lord Chamberlain led Britannia's warfare,
(20) And Marshall Pierre the Enfants de guerre
And our Fair Fredrick, sore blinded by woe,
Sought solace in Capetia's overthrow.
Fed malice and hate by a liar's blade
He found the truth within an orchard shade.
(25) Through Olivoix descent, warriors of yore,
Begot from Yves, Sentinel of Restore,
Came Pierre of Savoy, the lucky sword,
Europa's fame and French army lord,
Who seized the Perse squire upon field of war,
(30) And showed him mercy, lenity, and more,
Revealed the tale of Barazan's ending,
Of shadow Princes whose pow'rs dispending,
Had built an empire of science and fraud,
Preying upon sins of the weak and flawed.
(35) Thus reconciled, Marshall and squire resolved
To align in common purpose convolved.
And bear the ancient Sword of Seven Stars,
Repressed legacy of ancient road wars,
The venerable quest of Olivoix thane
(40) Would be their united destiny fane.
Sought solace in Capetia's overthrow.
Fed malice and hate by a liar's blade
He found the truth within an orchard shade.
(25) Through Olivoix descent, warriors of yore,
Begot from Yves, Sentinel of Restore,
Came Pierre of Savoy, the lucky sword,
Europa's fame and French army lord,
Who seized the Perse squire upon field of war,
(30) And showed him mercy, lenity, and more,
Revealed the tale of Barazan's ending,
Of shadow Princes whose pow'rs dispending,
Had built an empire of science and fraud,
Preying upon sins of the weak and flawed.
(35) Thus reconciled, Marshall and squire resolved
To align in common purpose convolved.
And bear the ancient Sword of Seven Stars,
Repressed legacy of ancient road wars,
The venerable quest of Olivoix thane
(40) Would be their united destiny fane.
But the fates are cruel; Pierre was deceived,
And set upon by his own chevauchée.
Mercenaries by Princes' gold subverted,
Hireling killers, by base urge perverted.
(45) Helpless in fight, Fredrick bugled for aid,
Calling for help from a British brigade.
Hearing the call, Chamberlain pricked his steed,
And charged forth chanting his Blue Garter creed.
To save his rival, enemy, and peer,
(50) Protector plunged headlong into the mere.
And there on the slopes of Glastonb'ry Tor,
Briton and Frank and Perse fought foes three score.
Mortal battle joined in an apple grove,
Where valour matchless with vain honours strove,
(55) Old enmity by new friendship forlorn,
Two heroes perished and one newly born.
Fredrick defiant dared combat's hazard,
Claiming the Protector's fallen vizzard.
And to this he adds Chamberlain's treasure,
(60) A golden mace valued beyond measure,
And set upon by his own chevauchée.
Mercenaries by Princes' gold subverted,
Hireling killers, by base urge perverted.
(45) Helpless in fight, Fredrick bugled for aid,
Calling for help from a British brigade.
Hearing the call, Chamberlain pricked his steed,
And charged forth chanting his Blue Garter creed.
To save his rival, enemy, and peer,
(50) Protector plunged headlong into the mere.
And there on the slopes of Glastonb'ry Tor,
Briton and Frank and Perse fought foes three score.
Mortal battle joined in an apple grove,
Where valour matchless with vain honours strove,
(55) Old enmity by new friendship forlorn,
Two heroes perished and one newly born.
Fredrick defiant dared combat's hazard,
Claiming the Protector's fallen vizzard.
And to this he adds Chamberlain's treasure,
(60) A golden mace valued beyond measure,
Magister's torch of Precursors decayed,
Puissant Star Rod, Olivoix's accolade.
Thus armed the squire outfaced traitors lawless,
Ignored the rout and with brav'ry dauntless,
(65) Risked all to defend the fallen valiants,
And defy cruelties of quisling malice.
Upon his moment of death, noble Pierre
Bade Fredrick squire to kneel and share in prayer
Off'ring benediction to gods divine,
(70) And pleading pardon for his sins malign
The warlord touched his charge soft with sword's edge,
And implored him to make a solemn pledge,
To resist and check the Princes' disease,
And take up the calling of Seven Seas.
(75) Fredrick made cov'nant within apple bow'r,
And received knighthood from chivalry's flower.
Torch now passed, swift withdraws the new-made knight,
Below the Tor, away from ling'ring fight,
Young Fredrick, descending with spirit wan,
(80) Conveys his lords in tombs of Avalon.
Puissant Star Rod, Olivoix's accolade.
Thus armed the squire outfaced traitors lawless,
Ignored the rout and with brav'ry dauntless,
(65) Risked all to defend the fallen valiants,
And defy cruelties of quisling malice.
Upon his moment of death, noble Pierre
Bade Fredrick squire to kneel and share in prayer
Off'ring benediction to gods divine,
(70) And pleading pardon for his sins malign
The warlord touched his charge soft with sword's edge,
And implored him to make a solemn pledge,
To resist and check the Princes' disease,
And take up the calling of Seven Seas.
(75) Fredrick made cov'nant within apple bow'r,
And received knighthood from chivalry's flower.
Torch now passed, swift withdraws the new-made knight,
Below the Tor, away from ling'ring fight,
Young Fredrick, descending with spirit wan,
(80) Conveys his lords in tombs of Avalon.
Assuming post as crypt guardian fit,
He designs how best his charge to remit.
“Quondam futurum" revolves in his brain.
Inflamed by the genius of spirits vain,
(85) He sets himself to hidden schemes unbind,
And build a new world for all humankind.
Thus Savaran fair ascends as scion,
And fast unites the lily and lion.
None may augur how fate drew sword and mace,
(90) Bequests of Olivoix, into embrace,
How warfare's gamble brought sudden detente,
And our Lord Savaran to fortune's font.
But the event of assassination,
Had forced unexpected assignation,
(95) Turning national rivals to allies,
And revealing mutual enterprise.
For hidden within Lord Chamberlain's scroll,
Fredrick had discovered a common goal
Shared twixt Protector and "L'Epee Chanseuse,"
(100) Both had pledged to follow Olivoix's muse.
He designs how best his charge to remit.
“Quondam futurum" revolves in his brain.
Inflamed by the genius of spirits vain,
(85) He sets himself to hidden schemes unbind,
And build a new world for all humankind.
Thus Savaran fair ascends as scion,
And fast unites the lily and lion.
None may augur how fate drew sword and mace,
(90) Bequests of Olivoix, into embrace,
How warfare's gamble brought sudden detente,
And our Lord Savaran to fortune's font.
But the event of assassination,
Had forced unexpected assignation,
(95) Turning national rivals to allies,
And revealing mutual enterprise.
For hidden within Lord Chamberlain's scroll,
Fredrick had discovered a common goal
Shared twixt Protector and "L'Epee Chanseuse,"
(100) Both had pledged to follow Olivoix's muse.
The lord's furtive notes revealed letters grave,
Sent over forest, heath, and crested wave,
A search for obscure signs and traces dim,
A secret war waged 'gainst rivals grim.
(105) Heathen armies and mechanical terror,
Nations laid low by frailty and error.
Chamberlain sought to stem the rising tide,
Appeal to allies from realms far and wide.
Fredrick mused at what might have been,
(110) Had lords now slain been able to convene.
What force would be raised if Briton and Frank
Had joined under a single banner's rank?
What righteous human power could be roused,
By true unfettered brotherhood espoused?
(115) In these tidings he understood at last,
The broad power the Princes' compassed,
They ruled through concocted tribulations,
The ancient grudges of warring nations.
Nursed bitter by envy, fed foul by fear,
(120) The world waited for a hero to appear.
Sent over forest, heath, and crested wave,
A search for obscure signs and traces dim,
A secret war waged 'gainst rivals grim.
(105) Heathen armies and mechanical terror,
Nations laid low by frailty and error.
Chamberlain sought to stem the rising tide,
Appeal to allies from realms far and wide.
Fredrick mused at what might have been,
(110) Had lords now slain been able to convene.
What force would be raised if Briton and Frank
Had joined under a single banner's rank?
What righteous human power could be roused,
By true unfettered brotherhood espoused?
(115) In these tidings he understood at last,
The broad power the Princes' compassed,
They ruled through concocted tribulations,
The ancient grudges of warring nations.
Nursed bitter by envy, fed foul by fear,
(120) The world waited for a hero to appear.
Comments