What can I say of my life?  I am nothing more than a servant of Perun and but an arm of the glorious nation of the Kutriguri, Chakagar, Sabiri, Onoguri, Utiguri, and all manner of Hunno-Bulgars.  I live only to lead my people, fight alongside our illustrious Khan and reap his vengeance upon our enemies!  My life has by no means been boring, for we live in a world that is filled both with great wonders and terrible evil.

Many years ago, when I was but a boy, I saw the world as a different place.  All that I saw was the endless steppe, rolling rivers, beautiful horses, and all manner of beasts that Volov had given to his people.  All of my cares never fell beyond tending the animals and making sport with the other children.  We all dreamed we would become brave, fierce warriors like our fathers.  Things were simple then.

As I became old enough to wield the yatagan and my horsemanship matured, dark times fell upon my people, the Chakagar.  Byzantium hailed a new Emperor, a usurper who held our people with no fear.  The tribute we had won by the hand of our glorious Khan when my grandfather fought was now denied to us.  Several dry seasons had rendered our herds thin and our grain was entirely spent.  With no gold to trade for grain, our people grew hungry, while our age old enemies grew fat.  It was time for war.

We too, hailed a new Khan - a fearless mortal with a taste for bloody battle!  In my sixteenth year my father sent me upon my first campaign as a trial of manhood.  It was then I first saw my first bloodshed, but it was five years later that I first fought alongside Khan Zamrach, leader within the Kutriguri.  My deeds in battle won my friendship with Zamrach, and for many years we fought alongside each other, beating back the enemy and laying waste to their cities.  Gold once again filled our coffers and our people feasted upon the spoils of war.  These were glorious times!  Alas that I could remain young and revel in campaigns against our enemies all of my years!

Yet, I was needed amongst my people, the Chakagar, who still lived along the most distant stretch of the great steppe.  My father had taken to his deathbed and bid me to return home to fulfill my legacy.  Though the years of war had been fruitful, most of life was still the needs of the people, tending the herds, moving the ger from place to place.  I did not care much for speaking at councils and settling feuds between my brethren, but I grew to accept my place.

As I grew in wisdom I began to realize that the tribes of Hunno-Bulgars might one day conquer all the known world if only they could unite into a single nation, but I thought this would never happen in the lifetime even of my grandchildren.  Like a fire, this thought burned fiercely in my heart.  We are, perhaps, to proud to lay down our swords, settle in one place and till the earth.  The tribes of the Hunno-Bulgars will always wander in their own ways, paying heed to no single ruler, but the one true ruler on earth - the Khan of the Hunno-Bulgars.

With this dream of the glory of my people, I soon after accompanied my friend and ally, Zamrach who had been serving as Kavkhan of the Kutriguri after the previous Khan converted to Christianity in Constantinople and allied with the Byzantines to eliminate Kana Subigi Omurtag. Hearing the call to rally our true and faithful, Kavkhan Zamrach and I now follow Kana Subigi Omurtag’s wishes especially where it concerns war in the West against the Franks. For this  cause, Kana Subigi Omurtag, granted unto me the mantle of the Khan of the Kutriguri, to serve as his arm against the West. May Tangra always keep him close to our hearts!

Today I lead the whole of the Kutriguri, and when the Spring comes, I take up my sword to fight alongside Zamrach, now serving as Koloboor of the Kutriguri in the name of Kana Subigi Omurtag.  Perhaps I do not fight as fiercely now as when I was young, though I know my cunning is much greater.  In my fortieth year I still see the world fraught with both beauty and ugliness.  So what then can I say of my life?  I have conquered no nations, nor moved mountains, nor crossed oceans, but I have served my gods and Kana Subigi Omurtag well.  I have lived well with my brethren, loved my wife and sired children.  I have ridden the breadth of the known world upon the back of a horse and drunk from the cup of her bounty.  Yes, I can say that I have lived like a khan, and would trade my life for that of no other mortal.

Glory to the gods and their children, the Hunno-Bulgars! Tangra Ismarladik!

- by my hand,

Khan Vaida of the Kutriguri