Edward Van de Gaarden

**Edward Van de Gaarden** name translates to Edward of the Vineyard, he was named this after being concieved inside a vineyard on the border of the Commonwealth of Kaladinia and Grand Republic of Xeka. He was born in the at-the-time province of Xeka called 'Liberum.'

## Biography

### Political career

As he grew up the leader at the time Deathors had driven the province into a Golden Era, Liberum's population was fastly surpassing the Nation that owned it. Eventually the leader Deathors spoke out against the leader DiamondNugget, calling him a 'Dictator' and 'Corrupt.' The now teenage Edward begun to make his mark in the continent of Serrona when he was involved in the first democratic election of Liberum as a member of the Council of Liberum. He made it in as one of the five members to guide the elected leader's decisions.

It was one casual day in the capital of Liberatum when he talked to fellow Council Member Jörð "Earth" Steinar Havardr and the elected leader Deathors. They decided to go on a trip into the nation of Xeka. Tensions were high between Liberum (who was vying for independence) and Xeka, so a trip was dangerous. Earth Havardr led the way through the swampy Xekan land to his city of Nordstad, fittingly nicknamed 'The Cobblestone City' due to its large cobblestone walls and structures.

They had then decided to head South-East to the Xekan capital of Narzek, where Deathors had been banned. They ventured across Xeka until they reached a huge gate made from sandstone. The gate was guarded by a man named Atay Osman, a member of the high council and veteran of the Kunir War. He had been given strict orders not to let Deathors or any of his allies in. They talked, and eventually Atay took the trio to an old ruin near the city, it was a war torn bunker on the site of a battle, they discussed the current situation and Atay voiced his support for Liberum's independence. However disaster happened when it was revealed that DiamondNugget and his right-hand man Frug (player).

There was a heated-argument at the walls of Narzek, DiamondNugget and Frug stood on the walls of the city while Atay, Deathors, Earth and Edward looked up at the two. Deathors and DiamondNugget argued for a while, words like 'dictator' and 'tyrant' being thrown around. It was here that Edward started to question Deathors. Frug agreed with Edward and defended him when Deathors scolded him. Frug said he should leave Liberum now and that Deathors would only drive it into the ground. This was followed by more baseless arguing between Deathors and DiamondNugget. Edward no longer knew what to think, and walked out into the desert to get away from the situation.

Edward fought long and hard about where his loyalties lay. Until he decided he had to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. He began to walk back to the city when he heard shouting and conflict. He ran to the situation to find Deathors being chased by DiamondNugget and Frug, he drew his sword and managed to get in between the two rival parties, fending the two Xekans off with his shield. The Xekans claimed Deathors had illegally taken sand from outside Narzek, a clearly made-up reason to Arrest or even kill Deathors. Seeing a battle coming, Edward told Deathors to run to the water and get back to Liberum, and that he'd hold them off, Deathors obliged and ran, Edward held them off a for a bit but was eventually overran by the Xekans, they chased Deathors but he escaped back to Liberum with Atay. Meanwhile Edward had escaped the country after crossing the border into the United Socialist States of Eldham's colony of Navarna.

He eventually found his friend Deathors back in Liberatum unharmed, with Atay, who had escaped with him. Atay did not know if he would be let back in so he built a house in Liberatum, he was eventually welcomed back into Xeka however. Deathors and Edward both knew that an independence war with Xeka was imminent, and so Edward asked his President to let him go back to Narzek and negotiate with DiamondNugget. At first, Deathors refused but after arguing a few minutes he let Edward return to Narzek.

Edward sailed along the south coast of Xeka until he reached Narzek. Edward was completely unarmed and was in the open with no protection, Diamond agreed to talk and Edward apologised for the aggression shown by his friend Deathors. The negotiations were suprisingly friendly. Edward managed to get the price of the independence of Liberum down from $375,000 dollars down to $225,000 and even managed to become allies with Xeka. It was here that Edward Van de Gaarden was realised for his diplomatic skill in Liberum and his word became respected throughout the newly independent nation.

### Liberum Crisis

Main article: Liberum Crisis
After achieving independence, Edward went on to become one of the most respected man in Liberum. He did a lot for Liberum including going on a successful diplomatic mission to the then independent Dablüza-Yalonska where they became allies and even offered to protect them from the threatening Bai Federation, helped the USSE in the early phases of the Sand War, but this was all interupted by Liberum Crisis, when Deathors attempted to betray the USSE and join the Zamotz Union during The Sand War. Edward had been in his tavern 'The Copper Pheasant' in Rosenstadt when he heard the news, he tried to show Deathors the error of his ways but Deathors firmly gripped his belief that the USSE and Xeka were both opressors and that they would be destroyed in The Sand War. Edward was unsuccessful and Deathors was exiled from Liberum by Jörð Havardr and his friends.

Deathors came back a few hours later however and set up a military camp outside Liberatum with his loyalists. During this state of emergency Edward became a temporary president of Liberum until a proper election could be held. After a lot of negotiating and arguing Deathors and his loyalists were outnumbered by Edward and Liberum and forced to flee. Deathors would later create The Empire of Ludonia, proving his power-hungry dictatorship that was kicked out of Liberum.

### Assassination of Deathors

Over the next few weeks, Deathors and Edward had sent letters back in forth, they eventually decided to meet up in Liberatum for a trade deal, where Edward would sell some enchanted fishing rods to Deathors for money. It was after this when Edward was drinking in a bar in Laria, that he was approached by his good friend Jörð Havardr, they drank and Earth eventually asked Edward if he knew where he could find Deathors. Edward asked Earth why he wanted to find him, Earth was honest and said that he wanted to kill Deathors. Edward was skeptical on the idea of killing his old friend Deathors so he told Earth to meet him at his house in Kazkaya later that night.

When Earth and Edward met it was an aggressive confrontation, they argued and Edward would refuse to disclose the location of Deathors, Earth was angered by this and called Edward a 'loyalist' and stormed out of the house. Edward eventually fought about it and knew that one day Deathors would try to come take Liberum for himself and attack USSE and Xeka.

The next day Edward went looking for his friend in Laria, he eventually found Earth in a shootout with his son Solin and his men against his Ex-Husband Mino Lo Pierre and some of their friends. Edward helped fend off Mino and after would agree to kill Deathors.

The plan was for Edward to do the trade deal and then for him to say a codeword, in which Earth would come out of hiding and kill Deathors.

The deal proceeded without any complications Edward gave Deathors the rods, however when the time came, Edward would say, 'I'm sorry about this Deathors,' Edward stabbed Deathors in the abdomen and Earth jumped out and shot him multiple times, this was fatal to Deathors. The duo thought it was over when Edward was hit by a bullet from nearby, the bullet was fired from Aurel Liberis, Deathors' son. There was a shootout but Earth eventually hit the final blow, Aurel met his demise with his father. The two were put into concrete coffins and dumped into the sea.