The basic story is great - savage Pentan horse nomad gets captured and forced to become a slave. Assigned to the kitchen, he learned to cook and discovered he was truly the Iron Chef of the Empire. He served various in the households of various increasingly important nobles, until he was in a position of trust. At the right moment (I think Earth Season 1615) he organized a slave rebellion and, armed with kitchen utensils, slaughtered his captors and raised half of Kostaddi in rebellion (Nick has the rebellion in Aggar for Moonson, but other notes suggest that it was in Kostaddi). During his rebellion (which spread from Kostaddi into the Provinces) Aelwin did many "questionable things" - most notorious was when he raped an important priestess (of whom? where?).
Aelwrin's Revolt could be grist for great roleplaying or character background. With the Provincial Army in Dragon Pass fighting against the Grazers (and keeping an eye on the rebellious Sartarites), I imagine that Aelwrin's revolt caught the Provincial Overseer and the Heartland nobles by complete surprise. Think Wat Tyler's Rebellion (or Jack Cade's rebellion), the Flanders Peasants Revolt of 1323-1328, the great German Peasants War of 1525 or the Zanj Revolt of 863-883. Slaves and peasants running amok (which is the ultimate nightmare of the Dara Happans) - many must have thought this was the return of Kazkurtum (or Ovosto at the least). Maybe the Satrap of Kostaddi petitioned the Emperor to unlease Shargash upon the ransacking mob and kill every peasant in southern Kostaddiland. Maybe the Provincial Overseer demanded that the provinces levy an army to stop the mob.
Instead, the Emperor sent JarEel. She came alone to Aelwin and seduced him into the Lunar Way. He pledged his body and soul to her protection and told his followers to disband. Those that complied were pardoned, the bodies of those that did not were probably crucified from Jillaro to Darleep. No wonder JarEel is the Third Inspiration of Moonson.
Jeff
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