I am Annie Muhammad Ibn Daoud Ibn Fahdlan, Ibn Al Abbas, Ibn Rasid, Ibn Hammad. And things were not always thus. At one time, I was a poet and a philosopher in the greatest city in the galaxy. Life was easy and I lived without care. Until one fateful day, I met a beautiful woman who belonged to another man. Her jealous husband complained to the Caliph who made me the ambassador to the land of the Tossuk Vlad - a planet far to the north. I was banished from my home and from all that I knew. So, I journeyed many months into the spaces of barbarian peoples - accompanied by Melchisidek, and old friend of my father - through the planets of the Ogus, the Khazars and the Bulgars, into the territory of murderous bandits, called "Pirates", who attack caravans, slaughtering everyone but I never reached my destination. Eventually I arrived on Yanibar and I joined Zeison Sha, there I am even in these days, thou I travelled a lot. But even now, when I must to, I have to fight, not only my inner demons, but real foes; for on the frontispice of my home, is this word of wisdom: "Hurry to meet Death before your place is taken." For back home, my ancestors used to think that the All-Father wove the skein of your life a long time ago. Go and hide in a hole if you wish, but you won't live one instant longer. Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing. Therefore, I always, as my father before me, and my father's father and my whole line of ancestors, before going to battle, I sing my war song, and I make my final pray to All-Father.
And, here it is; first my war song: 'Lo, there do I see my father. 'Lo, there do I see my mother, and my sisters, and my brothers. 'Lo, there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning. 'Lo, they do call to me. They bid me take my place among them. In the halls of the Houses of Afterlife,where the brave may live...forever.
And the final pray: "Merciful Father, I have squandered my days with plans of many things. This was not among them. But at this moment, I beg only to live the next few minutes well. For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought; all we ought to have said, and have not said; all we ought to have done, and have not done; I pray thee God for forgiveness."