My father... An odd character he was. He beat and enslaved his own children, built up a hoard of wealth and wives, became an impenetrable wall but then... he comes North to Bree , nearly crawling and begging for a place to stay, as if he couldn't bring himself to reach into his fat little coin pouch and buy a new feckin' estate that rivals his own in Umbar. Yet he asks his most ill-favoured son to house and care for him in these foreign lands...
But now he has fallen ill. I can hear his coughs tearing through his lungs and throat from across the house. His time is coming to an end and he knows this as well... He has been trying to change... He is gardening and knitting... He knitted identical pink sweaters for me and Ikrimah, (PINK! Of all wretched colours he chose PINK?!) What happened to that fierce some Warlord, the great Lord Umaarah whose name puts fear in foes hearts? The man who ruled with an iron hand, the maker of many slaves, the man who had six wives? What happened...
He wrote a will.
He named me the head of the household. He passed his title, wealth and estates on to me. The son he hated the most. The son that he beat with his own hand to 'make sure he was hurt right'... The son he made and broke a slave, who he whipped till he bled and cried out for mercy from the goddesses... the son who was the lowliest of the low, then rose to his own steadfast by doing ill deeds; stealing and slitting throats. His son that is a criminal...
Though I may not be all that bad. My eldest brother I heard is a slaver. Three brothers, including my twin, Inglen, became corsairs, thieving, pillaging, burning and raping the people of Gondor... Maldam became a merchant. The rest? I think they went off to fight, as military commanders more than likely, their rank bought by my father's wealth. And Abaan... He is seventeen and is living with me. He wants to be a fierce warrior.
My sisters; most married off to other Warlords and rich merchants. Though two came here with Father. My eldest sister, Usaymah, and my youngest. The youngest is only twelve. The same age as my eldest son.
Perhaps I am not as notorious as I or others thought. I have two children who love me, and I love them. I have a crowd of friends who love and support me as well, and help this poor, frazzled single father raise two rambunctious lads.
Compared to what I used to be, I am mild, tame. I only hope that I can use my new title and wealth to aid my family and strengthen the Umaarah legacy. I hope I don't become more of a wretched monster than I already am... or was...
I am now, Lord Gold Umaarah; Merchant and Corsair of Umbar.
