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Disclaimer: This is an ongoing series of letters written by a character in a role-playing game (RPG). It is a piece of fiction, and as such should not be mininterpeted as anything other than fiction.

That having been said, welcome to the world of Diego Nunez de Soldano, a travelling mariachi and swordsman in my 7th Sea Game, "Avalon Rising." Diego is loosely based on the character of "El Mariachi" from Robert Rodriguez' film of the same name, "Desperado," and "Once Upon A Time In Mexico."

I tell you this because it helps a lot if you imagine Antonio Banderas' voice while reading the letters.

Diego's biography follows this introduction - and you can read it or not, but it does provide a bit of context to what he's writing. If you're a player in "Avalon Rising," please remember that this is all stuff that you don't know in-character, unless Diego mentions it explicitly.

Thanks, and hope you enjoy.

--Alex Baker

(PS: Diego is portrayed by the actor Eduardo Noriega.)

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Diego was born, as many children in Castille are, into a large family. His branch of the Nuñez familia lived in Ranchero Torres, south of Barcino. Diego’s father, Salvador de Nuñez, had been in his time a duelist, taught by Diego del Soldana himself. The two men had become great friends, but when Salvador fell in love with del Soldana’s sister, Maria, del Soldana convinced the young warrior to use the money he had accumulated to settle down on a small ranchero and raise a family.

Diego’s life as a child was much like any other in Castille – he was loved by (and loved in return) his parents, he fought with (and occasionally beside) his beloved older brother and adored younger sisters, was educated, and generally was raised well. The one thing he was never, ever allowed to do was to train with a blade, and this was forbidden to his brother and sisters as well. Salvador realized how short his life might have been, and did not want his children to follow in his footsteps. Instead, he and Maria encouraged the children to follow more peaceful paths.

So it was that while the other children took to those occupations that suited them best (Roberto became a local alcalde, Esperanza joined the Church, and Dolores married a young Don of the Aldana family), Diego’s heart pulled him to a talent his mother taught him – the mariachi guitarra. Maria played it well, but lacked a certain passion. That virtue she felt was in her son, and she taught him the basics as best she could. Diego at first resisted the lessons (as it seems all children must), but in time he grew to love the music that flowed from the strings. Within a few short years, Diego far surpassed his mother’s meager talent. By the time he was in his middle teens, Diego had made a name for himself locally as a fiery and passionate player, to the point that his talents were being sought after from towns as far away as El Morro and San Juan.

When Diego came of age, Salvador introduced the young man to Diego del Soldana, who had heard for himself the mariachi’s talent and wished for him to come and live with the elder Don, that Diego might benefit from a more broadened view of life outside Ranchero Torres. Diego eagerly agreed (there were several young senoritas that Diego needed some time away from) and departed with del Soldana to his ranchero outside Avila.

Diego played for two years under del Soldana’s patronage, and became one of the more celebrated of the mariachis in the area. But a burgeoning career was brought to an abrupt halt with the beginning of the war with Montaigne. When word of del Ochoa’s betrayal of Barcino reached Diego’s ears, he knew that his ranchero familia would be directly in the path of the advancing invaders. With no time to grab anything but his well-loved guitar, Diego took a stallion from his patron’s stables and rode as if Legion was nipping at the horse’s heels.

He was more than a week late. Instead of the sprawling house, the attached stables, and the long rolling hills of green, Diego instead found thousands of Montaigne. Disguising himself as a servant, he managed to gain access to his father’s house. He soon learned that Salvador, Maria, Roberto and his family, and Dolores and hers, had all been at home when the invaders arrived.

It was behind the kitchen that he found the unmarked graves. Diego’s senses nearly broke, but he knew that if he lost control then, he would be dead within seconds. Instead, he crept back into the house, and slipped into the cellars. There, in an old wine cask that he knew his father used to hide things of great value, he found his father’s old swords, as well as family papers. With great care, Diego waited until nightfall to escape. He has yet to return to his father’s house since then.

Returning to del Soldana broken in spirit, Diego told the aged Don what he had seen. Del Soldana then told the young mariachi about Salvador’s life prior to the birth of his children, and Diego pleaded to be taught the ways of the Soldano. Seeing the fire in the young musician’s eyes, del Soldana agreed to teach Diego what he could.
For Diego, the next few months passed quickly, and his life focused down to his training and the burning need for revenge in his heart. He absorbed every lesson Don Diego taught him as a sponge soaks up water, and del Soldana marveled at the youth’s natural aptitude.

It was in 1668, in the still-deep cold of Primus, that Don del Soldana told his pupil that he had taught the young mariachi all he could, and that his path now led away from the safe confines of Avila. Diego thanked his teacher, gathered his things, and rode off towards Occupied Castille – and vengeance.

In the time since, Diego has traveled the countryside as a poor mariachi, taking food and shelter in trade for music and song. Occasionally he is moved to action when he sees an injustice being done, but through it all he has tried to keep his combat skills a secret, taking the promises of those he helps to keep what they have seen to themselves. He doesn’t want to spoil the surprise for the Montaigne when he arrives to reclaim his father’s lands. To this end he only goes now by the name “Diego,” and refuses to answer to anything else, even if confronted by someone he knew before the Montaigne arrived.

Unknown to Diego, he has been an unwitting assistant to El Vago on three occasions. The last time (only a few weeks ago), the Vagabond offered to Diego a chance to join up. The young mariachi refused. Although he is as patriotic as the next Castillian, and though his personal code of honor is very much like that which Los Vagos follows, Diego feels in his heart that he is unworthy of such an honor, as all he wants is to kill every Montaigne soldier that had anything to do with the death of his family, and then settle down with a good woman, a well made guitarra, and a little place of his own, where no one asks for his help or even knows who he is.

Just before the events in his letters to his sister, Don Diego was murdered and his ranchero burned to the ground by persons unknown. Diego arrived too late to help his old mentor, so he buried him in the garden he loved so well, leaving behind one of his own blades on the grave, and taking Don Diego's - to remind himself of a good man. Diego suspects that the men he hunts were responsible for this latest atrocity, and it is but one more grievance he intends to lay at their feet.

Personality:

These days Diego is a very quiet and solitary man. He rarely speaks unless spoken to first, and then in a soft and even tone of voice. He always seems to be laughing (inwardly) at some private joke, for there always seems to be a small smile on his face, and a sparkle in his eyes. These features are more noticeable when Diego is paying attention to a lady, and disappear completely when he is faced with any Montaigne.

Diego is extremely skilled with the mariachi guitarra, and carries one with him wherever he goes. In truth, Diego is a skilled combatant only because he needs to be, and looks forward to the day when he can lay his father’s swords down for the last time, and devote himself fully to his music.

A romantic at heart, even though he barely acknowledges such a character trait, Diego has a strict and unyielding moral code. He feels compelled to help those that need it the most (especially if the person in trouble is a fetching young senorita), and never asks for any compensation. He is especially fond of children, and despises those that would place them in deliberate danger. He rarely gives his word or his friendship, but both are inviolable once he does. Because of what it is that he does, Diego has avoided any serious emotional involvement with anyone, as he is pragmatic enough to believe that his life will probably be very short.

Diego has a deep and abiding faith in Theus, but is not a Vatacine, instead holding his own beliefs. He does wear a small Vatacine cross – a present from his sister Esperanza (still alive and safe in Malaca). He believes that Theus walks with him in his mission of retribution, but also believes that any luck he makes will be his own, as Theus will not interfere in the course of his life.

Diego is a demon in combat, and throws himself into the act with all the passion of his music. Sometimes he is also reckless, and will take outrageous chances in order to emerge victorious. Diego knows this, but does little to change his ways, as when he is fighting he feels almost as alive as when he plays his guitarra.

Description:

Diego Soldano de Nuñez is a strong and fit young man with soulful brown eyes and a tumble of long black hair. His profession is easily discerned by looking at his hands, which are long-fingered and graceful, with deep calluses on fingers and palms.

Diego does not wear clothing typical of the mariachi. He instead prefers a long-sleeved shirt (usually of a dark color and with bloused sleeves) and matching stock around the neck; tightly fitted black wool charro pants, open slightly at the ankle to fit over a short riding boot, and decorated down the sides with subdued silver embroidery; and a calf-length coat of a light brown/orange color (a hand-made gift from the child of a peon that Diego helped by ridding his farm of some bandidos). His swords are buckled to a wide belt (one on each hip), with his pistolas tucked into the back. His guitarra is slung over his back, held with a strap of tooled leather limned in silver.

Equipment:

Diego inherited his father’s two Soldano blades, which Salvador had received from his old mentor, Don Diego del Soldano. The weapons are intricately tooled estoque, both with silver 7-ring basket hilts, and each bearing the crest of the Nuñez familia. Diego also has two flintlock pistolas, their handles embossed with subtle inlays and with large, round end grasps for a sure grip. Aside from these, his guitarra (a beautiful instrument made from maple and spruce; with an ebony veneered neck, head, and fingerboard; rosewood pegs; and steel strings), and his cross, Diego carries little in the way of personal belongings, preferring to obtain what he needs from whatever aldea or cuidad he happens to be in.

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