RAHVIN

Rahvin's two major weaknesses were his love of sycophancy and his fondness for women. Many people gained position in his administration by flattering him… and although a handsome man, he could not stand rejection. His lovers were seldom allowed any choice in the matter.

- excerpt from 'The Forsaken'

Ared Mosinel lay awake, through the long night, silently contemplating his life. It had been another night of pleasure for him, as every night was for him now, and yet he enjoyed these quiet moments to trace the ceiling with his eyes and think quietly. He could never sleep.

He had spent his time these last few weeks arranging circumstances around him, as was his way. Now he was taking some time to relax and bask in the entertainment his actions had given him. He loved knowing that, even as he lay here in the darkness, events were taking place so far from him that an observer would have to scrutinize it as closely as they dared to see that he had been responsible for it in any way, and yet those very events were working in tandem in one another to his benefit. And the best bit was, he didn't even have to do anything.

Within a few days, everything would be in the perfect position and he would simply have to apply to slightest of input – push over the first domino – and sit back and watch as another territory fell to his master. It was almost too easy. That was why the forces of the Light would never win this war. Men like Lews Therin Telamon were too narrow-minded. They never thought outside the box, convinced as they were that to achieve anything, you had to put all the effort you had into it.

Ared had long ago seen that for the lie it was. Take Compulsion, for example. There were those who would simply use it to rob the target entirely of their free will, turn them into obedient slaves. Recently this particular crime had been on the rise, and victims usually had to be treated by Kamarile Maradim Nindar or another expert on damaged minds. No one could keep such a thing secret for long. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Ared had dedicated himself to mastering the finer parts of that particular aspect of the power. When used correctly, it left almost no trace. The woman lying asleep beside him would never even remember what had taken place tonight. And that was the way he preferred it.

Many people knew Ared for his looks, and he was often surrounded by women; it was occasionally said of him that he was almost too handsome. And yet, there were so many beautiful women in the world. All it meant was that he had no problem finding and choosing a pretty for the night. When the time came to have some fun, he wasn't going to let them spoil it for him.

He knew what that was about, too, although he didn't like to admit it, even to himself. Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable. When he had been much younger, long before the Collapse. There was one girl… all the girls had always been hanging all over him, but she was special. She was one of the only ones who never paid any attention to him. And he had gone after her, because there was something about her… but she told him that she hated him, that he disgusted her. And he didn't know what to do.

That's when he had learned of Compulsion, and its uses. Later – much later, once he had established his power under his new master, once he had perfected his skills – he had gone back and used his newest favourite trick on her, forced her into his bed. He had thought and hoped that it would allow him to move on, regain his self-assurance. He wanted to show her who was really in control. And at the very least, he'd get some enjoyment out of it.

He'd been wrong.

Now he hated himself more than ever, felt like the disgusting, horrible person she had said he was. How paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act! That night was the first time he had ever killed someone. Not that it made much difference; the amount of Compulsion he'd been forced to use had left her all but brain-dead.

But that night, he could have left it all behind, started anew. But he knew, deep down, that he simply wasn't strong enough to find anything but the remnants of the pleasure he still retained from his pretties. He could never understand any feeling stronger than the small joy he felt when someone complimented him, flattered him. It didn't matter if he knew they were lying. What mattered was that they knew he was stronger than them, that it was the only way to get past him.

Yes, he was shallow, he was vindictive, he was dissociative and everything else they said about him. But what did he care? Remorse just took away from his new-found enjoyment of life. All he cared about was getting ahead of other people, of becoming superior to them, and forcing them to acknowledge that fact. That was everything to him. He had the power within him, the strength, the cunning, the intelligence. And he would put them to use, serving under his new master. He alone would rule the world.

Quietly, he got up and walked out of the room. No one would ever know he was here. Back when he'd started, there had been some minor problems with the law, but that was then. Now, he was the law. No one could stand in his way.

It was a good life.

Nothing is known of Rahvin before the collapse… and in truth not a great deal after. There is little doubt that he thirsted for power above all else, and turned to the Dark Lord to satisfy that power.

- excerpt from 'The Forsaken'