I’m trying something here: Asking the same questions of the viewpoint character at or near the beginning of each book in a series to demonstrate how they have changed due to events. This series is Preparations For War, and Setting The Board is the third in that series
Go ahead and introduce yourself.
I’m Joe. My name on Earth might be Joe Bernard, but here in Yalskarr on Calmena, I’m Joe of Windhome Bay
Tell us where and when were you born.
The story I tell the locals is I was born in Windhome Bay, over on Wilmarglr continent, where Calmenans learned to sail the oceans. In reality, I was born in Southern California on Earth before Imperial contact.
How would you describe yourself?
I’m naturally about five foot eleven, light brown skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes. Mom’s descended from Mexican Indians, Dad’s an anglo. I usually keep myself pretty much how I was born, but the really important thing is I’m a Second Order Guardian, so I can change it pretty quickly.
Tell us about where you grew up.
Where my cover story says I grew up is the biggest shipbuilding town on the planet. Everyone in Windhome Bay is rich by the standards of Yarvahs, which is as of this moment, a poor town still under the domination of pseudo-feudal agaani, Calmena’s ancient solution to what happens when you’re psionic and your neighbors aren’t – now your oppressors are human instead of fractal demons. That may not be fair, as life for those under the agaani is better than for those enslaved by the fractal demons, but it’s a thin improvement.
In reality, I was a military brat on Earth, although we eventually settled down in the town of Temecula when Dad got a job at Fallbrook Weapons Center after military retirement
How old are you?
The locals think I’m six eights and two (50 decimal) of the short Calmenan years, roughly equal to twenty Earth years. In reality, I’m two prime thirtyone Imperial. That’s 151 in decimal terms, equal to 105 Earth years, but nobody lives past about fifty earth years here. Even if the fractal demons don’t eat you, and you don’t catch anything deadly, you’re physically worn out by then.
Did you have a happy childhood? Why/why not?
By Calmenan standards, yes. Windhome Bay pushed the demons out and they don’t have agaani either, being a part of the N’Yeschass Confederation. There’s every chance of living to a ripe old age of perhaps seventy Earth years there. By the standards of Hashiboor Continent, that’s heaven.
Past/ present relationships? How did they affect you?
I’ve been married to Asina for over eighty Earth years now. She redeemed me.
What do you value above all else in life?
Asina. Our three children. The defeat of the fractal demons, so nobody has to worry about the sort of issues most Calmenans have to face every day.
What are you obsessed with?
Trying to make Yarvahs the same sort of place N’yeschlass and Windhome Bay have become, where people can live their lives unbothered by agaani or fractal demons.
How do your beliefs make life better for yourself and the people you care about?
Asina and I founded both N’yeschlass and Windhome Bay in our previous missions. Ask the people of those places if they’d like to go back to being hunted by fractal demons or agaani
Biggest fear?
That the fractal demons will win the coming war. The Empire has been preparing for most of my life, but the demons have a lot of advantages.
What line will you never cross?
I will not aid the fractal demons, and I will not abide someone who does.
What is the best thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
Asina was the best thing. The feud between my mother and Asina – none of Asina’s making – is the worst.
Most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?
When I was just a kid, I used to smoke pot. I was working Tia Grace’s dog farm before official Imperial contact, and the feds raided us. I had about half an ounce, and it was all the excuse they needed to arrest us all and try and force Tia Grace to do what they wanted
Biggest secret?
That I’m not really from Calmena, and that the Empire is sponsoring Asina and I in our efforts to improve life here.
What is the one word you would use to define yourself?
Determined.
What is your current goal?
We’re going to make Yarvahs into the equivalent of Houston on Earth – build marine diesels and ship petroleum all over Calmena, starting the first real planet-wide industrial revolution. This will enable Calmena’s humans to do even more pushing back of the fractal demons.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WQGYK7L
Books2Read link: https://books2read.com/b/3JDXpK
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