I thought for my first post… I would touch on Stiger’s character a little and give some background to help my readers better understand the man.
Ben Stiger:
Stiger is a man who has been hardened by war, and the politics of the Mal’Zeelan Empire. He is a gifted fighter, a bastard of a man, master manipulator and a born leader of men.
Though many of his peers would wish he had not, Stiger has made the legions and service to the empire his life. He comes from a very powerful, yet infamous imperial family. (You will learn a little more about this in The Tiger) His father was one of the empire’s great generals… who made a poor choice… Stiger is living in his father’s shadow or really a dark cloud. (I don’t want to give too much away here… more coming on this in Books 2 & 3)
Stiger takes his honor seriously, even though most of his peers question it. He has already been tested in the fires of combat and suffers as a result… at times running hot and others cool. (If you have not yet guessed… he suffers a little from post-traumatic stress.)
The first book picks up in the middle of his story after the conclusion of a major campaign in the forests of Abath that dragged on for years. Think of the forests of Gaul with a more determined and organized enemy and you have some idea of what he has been through. (I plan on telling this story someday)
Stiger and Eli’s friendship began before the campaign in the Forests of Abath. I expect I will tell that story as well.
The empire has endured many centuries but is now threatened by multiple wars and a major rebellion in the South. A nobleman from an infamous family, imperial legionary officer, fighter and a right proper bastard of a man… Captain Ben Stiger finds himself reassigned from a crack legion to the rebellion simmering in the South. Placed in command of a truly terrible company, the 85th Imperial Foot, he is unknowingly sent on a suicide mission to resupply an isolated outpost, the garrison of Vrell. Along the way he must rebuild his new company, gain the respect of the men he leads, survive an assassination attempt, fight bandits, rebels, and an agent of an evil god. His companions on this journey of discovery and adventure are one of the few remaining elven rangers and a paladin on a quest for the High Father.
