Haming

The grandson of an Emperor, he was raised in riches and swaddled in gilded promises. As the grandson he had no role to play, no need to defend a throne or fight for his place. All he had to do was uphold the status and indulge.

Hamming was very, very good at indulging. In meat and wine and the warmth of bodies, in dance and song and art, in all that is created by others, for his enjoyment. In time, however, the lustre of gold grows dim and a familiar melody becomes a bore. He turned to his grandfather and asked: What should I become?

become whatever you desire, become something spledid, become nothing at all

So he turned away from feasts and invested instead his time in study of markets and commerce, in the running of systems of governance and distribution. He learnt much, and he turned to his grandfather and said: I have seen the lines upon which these systems are drawn and I can carve them into a gentler shape.

There was no response.

So he turned away from the comfort of his home and prestige of his position, and left to search for a place where he put into reality what he had learnt.