I just wanted to share that. Here is Lazarus, complete with life story. He got lucky enough to live through 11 terms in the same career.
Yes, he ended up Admiral. A blade-wielding admiral who holds the noble title of Duke.
Here is his story...
I was born the third son of a war baron, but I wasn't really prepared to rule. My first-born sister, however, got herself killed in a Marine mission, as is the family tradition. I fear for my future children, but they still have my bigger brother to shield them from becoming inheritors to the title.
Had him, that is, until he got himself killed in a war. Damn inconsiderate of him, if you're asking me! What, I have now to leave my social sciences and go enlist?
I suspect Dimitri has let them shoot him to avoid the boredom. I might as well, but that would be treason to my family name.
Damn.
Well, if it has to be the military, I can at least pick something nicer. They say chicks dig navy men, so... navy it is!
***
What the hell? They didn't want me? I'm too slow for them?
My physical development is fully within norms. Let them go impale themselves on the nearest dick, and I'm going to the Draft.
Any similarities are strictly coincidental.
***
The Draft got me into the Navy. I suspect my father has pulled a few strings. That, or a few bureaucrats need to be replaced - either the ones that stopped me earlier, or the ones that let me in now.
I'd rather string the former than the latter.
***
The army teaches you to do lots of thing, but Basic training teaches you to do them quick, dirty and with no finesse.
Please God, if you exist, don't let me fall in the hands of Navy doctors! They learned it in Basic, too, I hear.
I'd rather have a proper butcher.
Oh yes, I got commissioned, but not promoted.
***
Success! Got promoted, learned basic blade combat in order not to look like a fool in duels.
Still, the guys that already have the same rank didn't like it, claimed more time in the Navy should matter more than titles, and tried to arrange me a lawsuit for sexual harassment. As if I need to harass an unwilling partner.
Damn the bitch, too, I barely noticed her. But I guess they paid her handsomely. Ah well, it's better if I don't mention it in front of witnesses. Duels wouldn't help my case.
Let's see how much they'd withhold from me for the analgethics...anagathics...whatever. I'm on life-extending medication now!
I'll still see my father dead, and claim my own title. Although he says he wants to see grand-children before that. Maybe he's got them, but I haven't returned back in the ports I have visited.
Hmm, that maybe gives me an idea...
***
Got another promotion. Administrative duty is killer.
It might yet become my killer as well.
***
Bladework is great way to pass time. Which is kinda necessary when you can't make friends with most people under your command - because they're not your equals, nor with those equal to your rank - because they're not of your rank out of service.
Really, I had no idea a spaceship can be such a lonely place.
***
I was promoted a marquis. I guess my father has died from envy, since I didn't see him there.
Or he had just died. Whatever.
We were never all that close.
***
This diplomatic mission seems like it can become fun. I just have to negotiate a ceasefire.
Time to dust off some of my father's lessons. He was known for his mettle.
Although maybe I should better try and remember how Mum persuaded him that the best course of action is whatever she thought it was. She remained unknown, precisely because of her mettle.
***
Got another mission for the same place. And now they say the negotiators are at risk. Damn fanatics, and if it's what I suspect, damn the ones that are pulling the strings as well.
Sure, I can dispatch any two of their would-be assassins with a paper knife. If I notice them at time, that is. And if it's not a bomb.
Guess it's time to practice spotting the unusual things. The practice of smelling the violets' roots doesn't appeal to my sense of aesthetics.
***
Promotions, promotions...it's what happens when you're doing your duty.
Got a book finished. People are dying to learn how we almost died in that damn diplomatic mission, and why their neighbours are still at war despite it.
The publisher thinks I should add more duels and svelte chicks instead. I'm not folding, he's a moron - that was a classic diplomatic clustefuck that many scholars would want to know about.
***
Got another book published. The cadets should learn how to dispatch an enemy with a penknife, damnit! That's necessary in order for this planet to be prosperous.
And I should become rich.
***
It seems I've befriended a possible enemy. Although she said she's got a possible business proposal... plus, you know. Close contacts.
But her planet could still go to war with us. And if I haven't mustered out, I'll be leading our fleet. And she'd be leading theirs.
On top of which, my crownprince is hating me for busting his little conspiracy. Sure, it's impolite to add slow poison to your father's anagethics - a killer combo, I can assure you.
I couldn't be promoted further from an admiral, though.
***
That's it! I'm taking the money, and going to FERA, or whatever the organisation was called.
Also, I'm not going to draw the ire of the crown prince to the Navy. It's not why I've been working nearly 45 years for the planet's glory!
There's a whole wide space out there. I'm going to see it, and visit my sons and daughters while they think they're out of parental control in foreign universities!
Lazarus' a Life Story
I was born the third son of a war baron, but I wasn't really prepared to rule. My first-born sister, however, got herself killed in a Marine mission, as is the family tradition. I fear for my future children, but they still have my bigger brother to shield them from becoming inheritors to the title.
Had him, that is, until he got himself killed in a war. Damn inconsiderate of him, if you're asking me! What, I have now to leave my social sciences and go enlist?
I suspect Dimitri has let them shoot him to avoid the boredom. I might as well, but that would be treason to my family name.
Damn.
Well, if it has to be the military, I can at least pick something nicer. They say chicks dig navy men, so... navy it is!
***
What the hell? They didn't want me? I'm too slow for them?
My physical development is fully within norms. Let them go impale themselves on the nearest dick, and I'm going to the Draft.
Any similarities are strictly coincidental.
***
The Draft got me into the Navy. I suspect my father has pulled a few strings. That, or a few bureaucrats need to be replaced - either the ones that stopped me earlier, or the ones that let me in now.
I'd rather string the former than the latter.
***
The army teaches you to do lots of thing, but Basic training teaches you to do them quick, dirty and with no finesse.
Please God, if you exist, don't let me fall in the hands of Navy doctors! They learned it in Basic, too, I hear.
I'd rather have a proper butcher.
Oh yes, I got commissioned, but not promoted.
***
Success! Got promoted, learned basic blade combat in order not to look like a fool in duels.
Still, the guys that already have the same rank didn't like it, claimed more time in the Navy should matter more than titles, and tried to arrange me a lawsuit for sexual harassment. As if I need to harass an unwilling partner.
Damn the bitch, too, I barely noticed her. But I guess they paid her handsomely. Ah well, it's better if I don't mention it in front of witnesses. Duels wouldn't help my case.
Let's see how much they'd withhold from me for the analgethics...anagathics...whatever. I'm on life-extending medication now!
I'll still see my father dead, and claim my own title. Although he says he wants to see grand-children before that. Maybe he's got them, but I haven't returned back in the ports I have visited.
Hmm, that maybe gives me an idea...
***
Got another promotion. Administrative duty is killer.
It might yet become my killer as well.
***
Bladework is great way to pass time. Which is kinda necessary when you can't make friends with most people under your command - because they're not your equals, nor with those equal to your rank - because they're not of your rank out of service.
Really, I had no idea a spaceship can be such a lonely place.
***
I was promoted a marquis. I guess my father has died from envy, since I didn't see him there.
Or he had just died. Whatever.
We were never all that close.
***
This diplomatic mission seems like it can become fun. I just have to negotiate a ceasefire.
Time to dust off some of my father's lessons. He was known for his mettle.
Although maybe I should better try and remember how Mum persuaded him that the best course of action is whatever she thought it was. She remained unknown, precisely because of her mettle.
***
Got another mission for the same place. And now they say the negotiators are at risk. Damn fanatics, and if it's what I suspect, damn the ones that are pulling the strings as well.
Sure, I can dispatch any two of their would-be assassins with a paper knife. If I notice them at time, that is. And if it's not a bomb.
Guess it's time to practice spotting the unusual things. The practice of smelling the violets' roots doesn't appeal to my sense of aesthetics.
***
Promotions, promotions...it's what happens when you're doing your duty.
Got a book finished. People are dying to learn how we almost died in that damn diplomatic mission, and why their neighbours are still at war despite it.
The publisher thinks I should add more duels and svelte chicks instead. I'm not folding, he's a moron - that was a classic diplomatic clustefuck that many scholars would want to know about.
***
Got another book published. The cadets should learn how to dispatch an enemy with a penknife, damnit! That's necessary in order for this planet to be prosperous.
And I should become rich.
***
It seems I've befriended a possible enemy. Although she said she's got a possible business proposal... plus, you know. Close contacts.
But her planet could still go to war with us. And if I haven't mustered out, I'll be leading our fleet. And she'd be leading theirs.
On top of which, my crownprince is hating me for busting his little conspiracy. Sure, it's impolite to add slow poison to your father's anagethics - a killer combo, I can assure you.
I couldn't be promoted further from an admiral, though.
***
That's it! I'm taking the money, and going to FERA, or whatever the organisation was called.
Also, I'm not going to draw the ire of the crown prince to the Navy. It's not why I've been working nearly 45 years for the planet's glory!
There's a whole wide space out there. I'm going to see it, and visit my sons and daughters while they think they're out of parental control in foreign universities!
Strength 11
Agility 8
Constitution 8
Intelligence12
Education 11
Social 15 (Admiral Duke Lazarus is at your services...or you're at his services, more likely).
High Population: Streetwise 0
Industrialised: Trade 0
Formal education: Social Science 0
Pilot (Capital Ship) 1
Vacc Suit 1
Zero-G 1
Gunner (Ortillery) 1
Mechanic 1
Gun Combat (slug throwers) 1
Melee (blade) 4 (Yes, he can kill me with a pen knife while picking his teeth with the right hand).
Admin 1
Pilot (shuttles) 1
Leadership 2
Recon 1
Diplomacy 1
Tactics (naval) 1
Romantic relationship: Wife (and presumably, kids).
Contact: Diplomat from a "possible enemy" planet. She's from FERA, too.
Enemy: High-ranking noble (quite likely, the crown prince, because a Duke couldn't be threatened by anyone less).
Looks: 22 years old (taking life-prolonging drugs for 40 years now).
And that's the glorious Lazarus Le Bell! He entered the Navy through the Draft, got Commissioned, got promoted a lot, got accused of a crime and cleaned his name up, got married, became one of the best blade fighters out there, made friends with a potential future enemy, made enemy of the crown prince, and mustered out at the top of his glory.
(Well, I was going to roll a 12th term. But since I was rolling him with Invisible castle, when I inadvertently closed the tab before deciphering the last roll, I actually decided to muster out instead. And it made sense for the character as well.)
At the end, I like the guy, and he is really giving me a swashbuckling vibe!
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