The House of Emerald Flare

The House of Emerald Flare

The honorable members of the House of Emerald Flare hail from the city of Isadril, in the great realm of Yssaria on the East Continent.

Sotel, the Thief of Yssaria

Sotel was the first member of the House of Emerald Flare to set out on a military career. He is not actually of the lineage of Emerald Flare; the thief was orphaned at an early age and lived his early years on the streets of Isadril after being "adopted" by a poor family who soon abandoned him. Though his childhood was far from ideal, Sotel had hardly a pessimistic thought. He lived on the food he stole from the market for nearly three years. During those years he learned to disguise himself to avoid capture by the city's militia and perfected the unlawful art of thievery.

The young thief came to be a part of the House the day that he attempted to steal from the manor. Sotel had often plucked the oranges from the manor's orange grove to satisfy his craving for the sweet, citrusy fruit. It was autumn and the oranges had been harvested and taken into the manor. Though breaking into homes was not something Sotel often did, nothing could stand between him and the only oranges in Isadril. And so the thief did not even wait for the cover of nightfall to climb in through a window in the rear of the manor to search for the delightful treat. Just as he set his foot down on the stone floor he was knocked unconscious by the broad side of a sword. And so he met Zack, the sole heir of the House of Emerald Flare.

He awoke to find himself in the chamber of the lord of the manor, the eccentric Master Edmond. The man asked Sotel what he was doing in the manor. Sotel's reply saved him--if it were not for the words he spoke that day, the boy would have remained a thief hiding from the guards of Isadril for the rest of his life.

"Ah came ta get me orangies!"

Master Edmond broke out in booming laughter at the poor boy's accent. "'Orangies'?" he repeated between breaths, "'Orangies'? Boy, you may have all the 'orangies' your heart desires!" He laughed some more and sent a servant for some oranges. Then he chuckled some more over the boy's accent. "Do you have a name, boy?"

Sotel didn't see any harm in answering. If the man was going to turn him over to the guards he would have done so while he was unconscious.

"Sotel, sir."

The servant returned with a sack of oranges, and Sotel's eyes immediately lit up. Master Edmond took a couple out of the sack and tossed one of them to Sotel.

"Well then, Sotel, you won't ever have to climb through the window of my manor again! From now on you can call it home."

"WHAT!?" Zack stood in the doorway of the chamber. He wasn't entirely sure of what he had just heard. "I beg your pardon, father, but this boy is a lowly thief! I have seen him running from the marketplace before."

"Do not be so ready to condemn him, Zack. He has some good in him, you'll see. Don't you think this house is rather empty?"

"But..."

"You will treat him like your own brother. After your mother died giving birth to you, I gave up hope of having another son...this boy is a gift! From her or the gods, it does not matter!"

Having lived with him all his life, Zack was used to his father's quirks. He decided not to argue with his decision.