My name is Tykoun Taru. I am a member of the glorious Deathwatch Guards. I will gladly give my life in service to the Empress, may She live forever. It was not always like this however. As a young child growing up in the coastal city of Shon Kifar, I watched the town guards protecting the city. It never ceased to amaze me, the site of guardsmen in their house colors, marching in parade dress with the few Sul’dam leading around the even fewer Damane.

     Then one day, as I was on my way to the market place to pick up some lumber to help my father build a new shed, I realized that this day was the day of testing for new damane. My youngest sister, by the name of Vaisel, had just reached the age of testing, and would be required to put on the a’dam to see if she would become one of the poor damane her name stricken from all records, or one of the proud and honorable Sul’dam.

     Upon entering the town, we noticed that something was a little different this time. There were more people crowding the streets than was normal, and a slight buzz filled the air. With her hands on my sister’s shoulders, my mother led my sister to the front of the throng. That is when we realized what all the commotion was about. One of the sul’dam doing the testing was none other than the Daughter of the Nine Moons herself!

     I almost threw myself to my knees to be in the presence of one such as she, but my eyes immediately flew to the thin veil covering her face, signifying that she wished to be known only as the High Lady. Standing to either side of her, was one of the great Ogier Deathwatch guards. They held within their hands chains that led to the necks of two mighty lopar.

     The High Lady’s attention was then drawn somehow to my mother’s bowed head, and to my sisters fear filled eyes below it. She held up her left hand, with every nail upon it painted and lacquered, and beckoned to Vaisel to come towards her. She then spoke in a voice like silk sliding over steel, “Fear not young one. The Wheel holds a place for everyone in the pattern.”

     At this Vaisel took the few steps forward to close the distance between herself and the High Lady. The collar of the a’dam somehow fit snugly around Vaisel’s neck, and the expression on the High Lady’s face never changed. The High Lady then turned my sister around to face the crowd, and addressed the crowd of viewers, “This one has passed the test.” I heard a small click and the High Lady removed the a’dam, and with a huge sigh of relief my sister ran into the waiting arms of my mother and father.

     Suddenly out of nowhere, a man dressed in the rough woolens of a farmhand surged forward towards the High Lady. He gripped a dagger in his right hand, held low to the ground, and the expression on his face was one of fury. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blur of motion as one of the Deathwatch guards leapt in front of the High lady. The man made a kind of stabbing motion towards the Deathwatch guard, the guardsman just reached out and twisted the mans wrist. With a sickening pop the dagger dropped from the mans hands, and somehow he was flying through the air. He landed on the ground in a heap and the guardsman laid a heavy armor clad knee upon his chest. There was then a lot of movement around the High lady as she was taken from the town square, and I was eventually pushed out of the way.

     The town talked about the event for weeks and how someone tried to assassinate the Daughter of the Nine Moons in broad daylight in front of so many witnesses. All I could think of was the speed and fluidity with which the Deathwatch guard had moved. What I would give to be given the chance to give my life for that of the blood, such an honor could never be mine.

     With my fathers blessing I left for the capitol city of Seandar, where my uncle let me live with him while I tried to find a way to join the Imperial Deathwatch Guards. For many years I trained my hand to hand fighting skills, and with the help of my cousin Callende, found that I had the uncanny knack of being able to nimbly dodge almost any blow.

     After so many years of training, I eventually found myself before the great General Okil Falkor, and together with General Tzao, and General Antonio, I and my cousin were both inducted into the ranks of the Imperial Deathwatch Guards.

     Forward the Return! Glory to the Empress, may She live forever!