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<title>The Internet Vagabond :: Character Story: Gabriella's Fall</title>
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<span class="first">T</span>he
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<span class="first">I</span>nternet
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<span class="first">V</span>agabond
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<h1 id="character-story-gabriellas-fall">Character Story: Gabriella’s Fall</h1>
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<p><em>Gabriella de la Rodriguez Alejandra Santa Lucia, you are hereby relieved of
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duty and dishonorably discharged from the Barakhan Army.</em></p>
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<p>The morning was cold. It’s always cold. Something Gabriella knew but rarely
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experienced. She had not slept well since the hearing, and had taken to
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wandering the city.</p>
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<p><em>You are charged with gross negligence, gross incompetence, and failure to
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repair. The results of your actions have cost the lives of 8 Barakhan soldiers
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under your command.</em></p>
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<p>With a start she awoke to fresh dew. She had apparently dozed off. How swiftly
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her discipline had faltered. Yet another indication of her failure.</p>
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<p><em>Gareth Brand. Ryal Cross. Willem Frost. Davis Mason.</em></p>
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<p>She stopped paying for rooms, since she spent so little time in them. The
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streets weren’t that bad at night, despite what some may think. In the gardens
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or along the parkways, there were always trees to rest beneath. The city, the
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one she had dreamt about as a child; the one she has sworn to defend; the one
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she now walked as a ghost. The city somehow still welcomed her, still provided
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for her. Who was she to deserve it?</p>
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<p><em>Francis Potter. Cordon Stone. Richard Stone. Samuel White.</em></p>
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<p>She did not.</p>
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<p><em>All possessions of the army are now to be reclaimed. You will doff your armor,
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remove your shield, and place them on the floor beside you. All possessions
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which belong to you have been gathered, and are now presented to you.</em></p>
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<p>A sack, with several sets of clothing. A few books. Her Uncle’s sword. These
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items were handed to her by a court clerk. She took them, and in stunned
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silence, stared at the floor in front of her.</p>
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<p><em>This dismissal is now complete. As of this moment, you are forbidden interaction
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with any members of House Barakhan, until you return to Mnemar and make amends
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for your actions.</em></p>
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<p>She couldn’t move. She could barely breathe. The Field Marshall closed the book,
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and placed it on the table before him. The Imperial Magister, with the slightest
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smirk on his face, was the first to leave. After what seemed like ages, one of
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Field Marshall Barakhan Randall’s captains escorted Gabriella to the exit.</p>
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<p>This was the fourth time she walked into the temple. This time she was
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determined to at least try. She spotted a secluded space, and knelt at a pew.
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After a few moments, she rose. This is pointless, she thought, and began to walk
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out. She paused, then slowly returned to the pew. Again she knelt, and as she
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had done so many times since Rattimas, whispered quietly the names of her men.
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<em>Gareth, Ryal, Willem, Davis, Francis.</em> She stopped, took a deep breath, and
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continued. <em>Cordon, Richard, Samuel.</em> Silence. She stared at her hands, clasped
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before her.</p>
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<p>“I’ve never done this before. I’ve seen my men pray to gods. I’ve seen the
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citizens and refugees with their shrines and books. I’ve never been convinced it
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was worth my time. I guess, now that I have nothing left, it doesn’t seem such a
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waste.”</p>
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<p>She smiled, and laughed quietly. “This is pointless.”</p>
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<p>She rose, and as she did, a voice from behind her spoke.</p>
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<p>“Where I walk, so must you.”</p>
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<p>Gabriella turned, and before her saw a woman dressed in stately attire. Her
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white gown was precisely fitted, and simply decorated with pearls and rubies.
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Her hair was fashioned up into a wide fin around a golden comb. In her hands she
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held a scepter, of golden shaft and topped with a red orb, which itself was
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surrounded by a golden crown.</p>
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<p>“Beg your pardon, ma’am. I am not so desperate as to find employ as a servant.”
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Gabriella replied.</p>
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<p>“You have always been my servant, Gabriella. Ever since you first dreamt of my
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city.” The woman sat, and gestured for Gabriella to do the same. As she did, the
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woman continued.</p>
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<p>“My city is under threat, and you have come very far to protect it. The army
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provided you with training, which will serve you well. While your discharge from
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the army is unfortunate, it is but a slight bump in the road.”</p>
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<p>The woman waited, then. Gabriella returned her gaze, confused. This woman was
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not present at her dismissal, and news of it had not spread outside the
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barracks. If this woman was Barakhan, she was forbidden to speak with Gabriella.</p>
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<p>“I am not worthy of protecting this city. My failures are paramount, and my
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actions found wanting. I have failed my family, my army, my homeland, and
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myself.” Gabriella replied.</p>
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<p>“The events which led to your dismissal are unfortunate, but the judgement is
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fair.”</p>
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<p>Gabriella winced. If the woman noticed, she paid no heed.</p>
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<p>“You will make amends yet. Now is no time for this pathetic exercise in
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self-pity. For nearly two weeks you have lived as a vagrant and it has not done
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you well. Cities have inns for a reason. Get a room at The Red River Way. Tork,
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the keeper, is a good man and will charge you a fair price. You need a bath, and
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to properly dress yourself. I cannot give you the armor you are familiar with,
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but this cloak will keep you warm.”</p>
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<p>The woman rose then, and looked down upon Gabriella.</p>
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<p>“You must walk my city. Every road and alley way. Upon its stones and bricks you
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will discover your strength. You have asked for help, and this is how you shall
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earn it. You once swore to protect this city, and by proxy have sworn fealty to
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me. In return, once you have proven your fealty, I will extend my blessing to
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you.”</p>
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<p>Gabriella stood, as the woman thrust the cloak into her arms.</p>
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<p>“I will find you once more, here, when you are done.”</p>
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<p>“Who are you to command me? I have no commander. I have no lord. I don’t want
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your charity and I don’t want your chores!” Gabriella responded, a fury rising
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in her voice.</p>
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<p>“I am the patron of Silent Fall. I am Erathis. You asked for my help. I have
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given it.”</p>
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<h1 id="100-days">100 Days</h1>
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<p>I’m writing this post as part of
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<a href="https://100daystooffload.com">#100DaysToOffload</a>, an initiative to inspire
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writing habits. Perhaps you could do the same.</p>
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<div class="author_info">
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Bill Niblock
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2020-06-18
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