Orche

Orche (full name: Sage vel Orche) is a Nordic-Nivoan from the Technocratic Republic of Nivoa. He's mostly known for his role as the minister of foreign affairs at the Eshdal Federation, and as one of the main designers of the Shroomhill Accords, the constitution of the United Federation of Eshdal, and his role as the co-founder of the L'internationale Bank.

## Early life

Senator Orche of Nivoa came from the highest of hierarchies. His father, Balder vel Orche, was the jarl of the north, in the Nordic kingdom of Velos, controlling the citizens with an iron fist. Those who dared to speak badly, even with

the lowest of criticisms, got beheaded. Orche’s father always gave Orche the best of education, hoping that one day he would run the nation as the jarl. But his plannes backfired. Orche’s teacher was part of the illegal political party “Young Velos”, which believed in the ideas of democracy, equality, and liberty. From his teaching, Orche has always remembered those three things; “Democracy, equality, liberty”.

From a young age, Orche was taught one thing from his father: There are the people at the top, and there are the people at the bottom. Orche couldn’t see the world like that any longer, and he and his father had started to drift apart. But at the age of 20, the last sense of connection between the two has completely shattered. A big fight between the two has broke down:

*“You’re nothing more than a fool, a fool who believe he can change the world”*

*“You’re a traitor to our culture, a traitor to our beliefs! You’re not worthy of being a jarl”* -Orche said to his father.

That was the last thing he told his father before he stabbed him in the back with a knife. At that moment, Orche has just killed the jarl of Velos, which made him the new jarl of the north. But he couldn’t… “A real leader does not stab from the back, he fights to the death like a true warrior. I’m not worthy”. He escaped Velos and never came back. In just a matter of two months, Velos ceased to exist. The power vacuum that came with the death of the jarl has left the nation without a true leader. Most of the citizens of Velos have escaped to the mercy of the jarl of the east, in the nation of VinterFöld.

Orche ran south, never looking back. He stumbled upon a new settlement in the east, called Nivoa. He approached the new settlers, who told him that they believe in the ideas of technocracy and equality. Orche was more than shocked to find out that the ideas of his father were completely wrong “There are the people at the top, and there are the people at the bottom”. Orche decided that he’s going to change that, he does not wish for the people at the bottom to suffer any longer “Democracy equality liberty, democracy equality liberty…” He told himself over and over. He climbed the ranks of Nivoa and became the senator of diplomacy. Finally, he could bring the revolution, finally, he can show the world what democracy, equality, and liberty, truly mean.

He never told anyone about his old life, “no one can know” he said. “no one can know I’m the son of the tyrant of the north… I’m not here to bring chaos and tyranny as my father did, I’m part of the revolution!”

## As the senator of foreign affairs in Nivoa

After joining Nivoa, Orche became the senator of foreign affairs. While at office, Orche created multiple treaties, the more well-known ones were the alliance treaty with Grimsburg, the secret alliance with Ilios, the declaration of the United Federation of Eshdal, and the treaty of Westpeak Fort, which ended the Blackmore peak war.

## As the minister of foreign affairs in Eshdal

With the establishment of the United Federation of Eshdal, Orche got the role of the foreign affairs minister of the temporary government. He won the same title again the first federal elections of Eshdal. With his new role, Orche moved quickly to gain international recognition. Orche created multiple treaties of corporation and friendship with the state of Kosbia, and began reviving the relations with Grimsburg, which later joined the federation as the third state.

## Death

Saga vel Orche was assassinated by his son, Calder vel Orche, just 2 hours before the battle of Honebay in the Great War. He was found dead 30 minutes before the war began, at his house in Nivoa. Calder has never told anyone about the truth...

### From the story "Before I Leave":

He woke up to the heat of the darkness. He couldn’t remember anything, “Where… where am I?” he asked himself. “Hello? Hello, is anyone there?” The only answer he got was his own echo. “Am I… am I dead?” he thought to himself. Saga vel Orche looked around the darkness. “...Perhaps”. He heard. Orche looked behind him, a creature was standing there, a creature which is impossible to describe. The odd character was recognizable to Orche, but one thing he knew for sure, that’s not a human being.

“Are… are you God?” Orche asked shivering. The creature looked at him like a little boy inspecting ants “Amusing,” the character said in a deep voice, “Amusing to see what you humans think about the unknown.” Orche was confused, he had so many questions his head was about to spin. Oche opened his mouth. But before he could even say anything; “No”, said the creature, “No you’re not quite dead yet. Your heart has stopped working a couple of seconds ago. . You have mear couple of minutes before the darkness would take you forever.” Orche didn’t know what to say, he’s not dead, but not alive. He’s a dead man living upon the surface of the earth. He looked around, and all he could say is “So, there’s no way back now, isn’t it?” The creature smiled, “Unfortunately, I believe that’s the end of the road.” The voice of the creature was pleasant, almost like the voice of a parent who’s trying to cheer a little boy. “But that’s how things are. How could there be life, without death”.

“How… how did that happened?” Asked Orche. He wasn’t scared nor confused anymore, but rather amused. “Like father like son”, the creature said, “Saga vel Orche, the founder of Eshdal was assassinated by his own son”.

“Calder did it? How could it be?”

“Saga, you were a good diplomat and a good leader. But that came at a cost. You fought for democracy, freedom, equality. But your son didn’t care for any of those. He just wanted his father, he just wanted to be your son”.

“What… what is he planing,” Orche asked. But the only answer he got was silence. Orche shook his head “You don’t know, do you?” “I’m only a fraction of your imagination, Orche,” said the creature, “I know as much as you do”.

Orche had so many questions, he didn’t know where to even begin. “Was… was that all worth it?” Asked Orche. The creature didn’t respond. “Please tell me!” he shouted “Was that all worth it? Did I... “ his voice became quiet, “Did I made the right choice that night? I had no choice but to kill him, kill my own father. I never wanted to do that. For all it’s worth, he was still my father. From that moment forward, there was no going back. I crushed so many people on my way, destroyed entire civilizations and nations. So, please… Just answer my question, was that all worth it?” Orche was crying. The creature looked at him like he can’t show emotions.

“Saga,” said the creature, “You made your choices in life. You’ve hurt a lot of people, you’ve single-handedly changed the entire course of history. Was that all worth it? I don’t know, and I don’t think anyone knows. But I do know one thing, with the pain, so comes peace. You gave the people of the east freedom and democracy. You were the great liberator, yet the great tyrant. You saved the lives of many, but at the cost of many others. Many died in your hands, but many got prosperity and peace. Orche, we can’t change the past, but perhaps we can both look to the future”.

The creature pointed at a golden shiny door at the end of the hall. Orche knew what was it all about. He looked at the ground “Before… Before I leave” he asked, “can I please see them again, I want to see all of them again. The people I loved, the people I’ve hurt, the people I’ve killed, the people I’ve saved. Please, I beg you. Let me see them all, just one last time.” The creature looked down on the small-looking human. “Yes,” he said, “You may see them once more”. Describing what happened next would be nothing less than impossible, even for a dead man. It was less than a moment that felt like months and years. Orche felt happy, sad, agony, depressed, hurt, in love, in pain, in harmony with the world... *It’s over, it’s all over now.*

Orche looked at the shiny door, chills were going up and down in his dying body. He smiled and said: I’m ready...