- When the world was being torn down, he was building it back up again.
Born into a noble family of Galadan, the Baraka's had close ties to the ruling Emperor and often highly respected among court. They had one son, Soren, who while well versed in the diplomatic proceedings of his parents took more toward helping the common people in other ways. He fought for education as well as the health and wellness of those not lucky enough to be born into good fortune. He is exceptionally well liked by both the people and nobles, but those with a warmonger outlook saw him as a threat to the 'peace' they were building. Soren was often kept away from the military counsel as his views often reflected opposite to theirs. He believed that wars hurt the people more than they saved them, as usually Galadan put no efforts to clean up or help villages after battles that wrecked homes.
During the reign of the Luciano family, Soren watched in sadness as the Emperor turned tyrannical, and Galadan went from a place of beauty to one of dread. He spent his days traveling the kingdom to help those in need by providing food, comfort, and healing. On one of these excursion is where he met Prince Rameses.
The second eldest child, Rameses was a strict and brutal war general who facilitated the tyranny of his father the Emperor. Soren, knowing this well with his insight from inside the palace walls, paid him little mind. Yet Rameses was intrigued by the lone noble out among the common people, cleaning up as his battalion blazed through the deserts. The prince had seen Soren before around the court and attempted to speak with him. Soren resisted any advances, but Rameses persisted nevertheless.
Yet Soren did not blame Rameses for his position. He knew that the death of the Empress and systematic decline of the Emperor's sanity took a great toll on the royal children, and he fully believed that it was circumstance that led the prince to lead the life he did. Despite his desire to not be associated with the prince, the two were slowly magnetized to one another, forming a delicate bond that was weary on both sides.
Over the course of a few years the two found love within each other, but Rameses for all of Soren's pleading still carried out the orders of his father. The prince only knew one way of life and that was survival at all costs. He did not understand Soren's views of the world. During the uprising from Prince Cassius and Princess Odessa to overthrow the Emperor, the now Commander Rameses lost the battle for the palace. He and his father were usurped and Rameses, by the will of the people, was sentenced to death. Yet Soren stood in the way, protecting the supposed cruel Commander much to the confusion of Cassius.
"If you kill him," he said, "you must take me as well."
Cassius asked how Soren could love a monster... and Soren said by seeing him as a man. People cannot change, but you can find the good that is already inside of them.
Touched by Soren's gentle heart, Rameses was instead a prisoner of Galadan, exiled to an outlying village to live the rest of his days. Soren stood by his side, building up a broken man and teaching him the compassion and love that was lost so long ago.