Burzmale Julian

Burzmale Julian served as High General of the Dark Wrath during the Great War from 25 to 27 WR. He was thus the highest-ranking military officer in the armies of the Dark Gods, but they never trusted him enough to give him control over their whole war effort. Previously, he had been Celiose Cole's second in command, serving as Lt. General of the Grand Army.

Early Life

Burzmale Julian was born the son of Comte Julian, a Tasnican cavalryman, and Jarya Kareni, a Ticonderan slave girl Comte "liberated" while serving in Auria. Burzmale's mother had been a Grolim before being captured and sold into slavery; she was killed for her past crimes while Burzmale was very young.

Although Burzmale's father Comte (who also went by Rolf, his middle name) felt that Jarya was the great love of his life, he felt Burzmale needed a mother, especially since he was so often on campaign. Wounded while leading a raid behind enemy lines, he met a nurse, Lucilla, while recuperating. Plain, a "respectable woman from a respectable family", and also not a former priest to infernal powers, Lucilla was the total opposite of Jarya. She was mostly responsible for raising Burzmale. Burzmale spent most of his childhood in a small village a few hours away from Centwerp.

Cavalry Officer

There was almost no question what career Burzmale would choose. The Julians were a proud military family, and could trace their family tree back seven centuries to a Hochmeister of the Rittersbruder. Besides, the Web was at war. Like his entire generation, Burzmale Julian had only known the Great War.

Burzmale was too young to serve in the NAMAC Conflict, which made his father a General and one of the Republic's military heroes. He had mostly completed his training, and was slated to serve under his father as part of the REF expedition to Ticondera. However, he got into a drunken bar fight over a woman and was sentenced to be held in the Stockades for a month. His father simply smiled at him and wanted to know if she was worth it. This was the last time Burzmale saw his father alive; Comte Julian, along with almost the entire REF, perished in the disastrous battle of North Viper.

The wholesale destruction of Tasnica's army was a low ebb for their fortunes in the war. Burzmale was rapidly promoted as the Republic desperately tried to replenish the ranks of its soldiers. Many officers thrust rapidly forward would founder, but Burzmale thrived. Because large, land-based military actions were impossible for Tasnica, they provided detachments for other countries, and led small raids, and desperately tried to "do something". Burzmale enjoyed this period in his life; he was still a young man, an impressive figure in his flashy cavalry uniform, living a life of derring-do and adventure. Burzmale was known to have an eye for the ladies. Like many officers of this period, Burzmale kept a diary, which has proven to be a disappointment to historians. A typical entry reads: "March 12 19 WR. Getrude: 7 (great ass) Lindsay 4 (eh) Christine 10 (but a total bitch). Also some issue with tmw's operation."

Second-in-command of the Grand Army

Burzmale was a Colonel by the time he met Celiose Cole, and his diary reported his thought on the future Generalissimo: "Bit of a stick in the mud, but what do you expect from an artilleryman?" Celiose was a military prodigy, and his meteoric rise irritated many career soldiers who felt that Prime Minister Rhodes Palmerston was gambling with a "child savant" general and "dangerous unproven magitek".

Celiose was just seventeen when he was promoted General of Artillery; Burzmale, still a Colonel, happened to catch Celiose at Ochre headquarters and congratulated him. Burzmale insisted that he take his new boss out to celebrate, especially when he learned that Celiose had never been drunk before. ("The men will NEVER trust you if you can't drink!") Although Celiose would, in time, have many capable subordinates, Burzmale was perhaps the only one who was his friend.

Ticondera seized the Ice Country in 20 WR, a prelude to large moves in the Mana Dimension. Tasnica could not allows this to stand, and tasked the REF with driving the Legions out. Celiose had overall command of the expedition, but Burzmale Julian, along with Torstensson Lenart, emerged as his key commanders. A boisterous figure with a touch for the common soldier, Burzmale was probably the most popular general. Perhaps his most important contribution to the campaign was getting the Tasnican officer corps to trust Celiose long enough for Celiose to start winning.

Celiose's victories naturally quieted all objections to him. In 23 WR, he destroyed several legions in a dramatic fashion at the Batttle of the Frozen Bay. Rhodes Palmerston, always one to understand and capitalize on good theater, promoted Celiose to the rest of the Web as "the man who can win the war," and formed a Grand Army with nations across the Web with Celiose as Generalissimo.

Burzmale was Celiose's pick for second-in-command. The House of Lords tried to pressure him to appoint someone else; they did not want Tasnicans in both of the top posts. Celiose, Generalissimo barely a week, told the House, "No. All command appointments, promotions, operations, and strategy are under my prerogative." Burzmale, when told this, said, "Dangit, Cel, you could've just said, "Fuck off."

Burzmale's tenure in the GA is almost inevitably overshadowed by his later betrayal. However, he still had a way with the common soldier, and probably deserves at least some of the credit for getting the multinational force to 'gel'. During this year, he rarely commanded units himself, though he occasionally acted as Generalissimo when Celiose was unavailable.

Trial and Execution

Figgy

Burzmale Julian was nominated for a Figgy in 1996 in the Best Supporting Character category ...and won!