Characters: Al-Adiz residents

 

CHARACTERS

Mulek ibn-Aharat al-Aswara, Emir of Al-Adiz: Ruler of the city and the surrounding lands. Vassal to the Sultan of All Araby. Seems concerned about his city, its security, and its prosperity. Has the looks of a warrior but is getting long in the tooth. Courteous and generous. Four wives.

Akul the Bull, Harbor Master of the Third Port of Al-Adiz: This obese man oversees the third harbor reserved for foreign traders (the first port is military, the second for true believers). He's as corrupt as he is fat but too clever to take bribes directly. Indeed, he gives a token gift to all visitors while his henchmen collect hard gold from whoever comes to port. 

Wigmar has not had direct contact but has received an ornate water pipe as a welcoming gift. It's unlikely that common visitors get this treatment. Then again, by looking at the Spirit, you can tell its owner is someone special.

Muthmet the Black, Captain of the Guard: A towering figure, his dark skin betrays his Southern origins. He holds the power of life and death over foreigners in the city, a stark reminder of the strict laws that govern Al-Adiz. His presence alone is a testament to the city's commitment to order and security. 

Again, not a man Wigmar has been in direct contact with.

Hakim ibn-Alim al-Hakk, Master of the Emporium of Heavenly Delights: This darkly handsome man in his late 40s or early 50s is the primary owner and chief operator of one of the dozen or so major merchant companies in Al-Adiz. Wigmar chose to call upon Hakim specifically because "the omens were favorable."

Sekhmet: The illegitimate daughter of Hakim, she was once the least of his servants. Now, she serves Wigmar, her new master. A budding artist, her journey from the shadows to the forefront of the story is just beginning. 

Nafira: Curvaceous slave girl. Tribal origins. Unknown how she came to be a slave. The only person to mention Akh. Formerly owned by Emir Mulek.

Bastheth: Local minor "goddess" that dwells in a magic cave near Al-Adiz. Bastheth is both a woman and a leopard - and sometimes both at the same time.

Nadia: Voice of Bastheth. Recently promoted. Helped oversee the rite of marriage. Kislevite roots.

Fidez: An elderly gentleman and scholar of Al-Adiz. Also, a fakir (sorcerer). His faith is on the pragmatic side of the scale.

Fatimeh: Daughter of the Emir. Rather adventurous. Will come north.

Hemeth: Daughter of the Emir. Rather timid. Will stay in Al-Adiz.

Hashan: Desert dweller, tribal leader, accompanied Thesalva to the Dead Lands.

From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 87 (Arabyan nights)

 

11 Jahrdrung 2502

Al-Adiz, Northern coast of Araby

My somewhat impromptu Arabyan expedition continues. 

Bastheth has been introduced to my traveling companions. A somewhat mixed reaction, as expected. I think some of my near and dear actually feel a little threatened by my fourth wife. I cannot blame them; it is rare for mortals to brush shoulders with powers such as hers. When we leave, Nadia will represent her, and all will be well, I shall think.

Speaking of Bastheth, when we return to the north, a conversation with the grandmaster of the Knight's Panther is in order. There are enigmatic secrets and concealed truths here, waiting to be unveiled. If handled with finesse, we could amass a legion of loyal warriors to our cause.

I have further secured the allegiance of Emir Mulek by marrying two of his daughters, the fiery and adventurous Fatimeh and the somewhat more timid Hemeth. Both are flowers of the desert, to be sure, but these are political marriages, nothing more. Fatimeh will travel north with us, and Hemeth will remain behind.

Hakim is making arrangements to set up the production of fine wooden goods here in Al-Adiz—with the Emir's blessings, of course. There is plenty of cheap labor to be had here. All we need are some wood and a few masters and journeymen to oversee the proceedings. To that end, I have detached some good men from the crew to get things started. At the very least, they can arrange for shops and tools and take on apprentices. And have a look at the old castle, see what wooden fittings need replacing.

Ankh has ventured deep into the desert, his actions shrouded in mystery. He remains distant, unresponsive even to his high priest. His absence at this critical juncture leaves the faithful in a precarious position. His swift return is of utmost importance.

Spoke to the Emir and his Fakir, a most amicable chap by the name of Fidez, about the past, but more importantly, about the future of Al-Adiz once Ankh returns from the desert. The river shall flow once more, and the lands will rejoice.

Thesalva is en route with the Everchild, but we must not tarry. Nordland awaits its lord, and our departure is imminent. However, the Child will be secure in Al-Adiz, under Thesalva's vigilant watch, shielded by sturdy walls and the Emir's guards. Rest assured, arrangements for her return to Ulthuan will be expedited.

From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 86 (An Emir, a slave girl, and a leopard-headed goddess walk into a bar)

 

29 Nachhexen 2502

Al-Adiz, Northern coast of Araby

I continue to acquaint myself with this strange land's history, customs, peoples, and gods. Despite reading many books on the subject and speaking at length with Ankh, I've come to realize this place is so much more. Ankh's knowledge is either extremely old or brief, so it cannot convey the full picture. As for those books... many were probably written based on hearsay or, at best, second-hand accounts.

Adapting to the local ways, I've managed to forge a cordial bond with Mulek ibn-Aharat al-Aswara, the Emir of Al-Adiz. Though not a devout follower, he has his own unique way of worshipping the sun , which indirectly aligns with Ankh's beliefs. A nobleman and a scholar, he has graciously granted me rights to the old Knights Panther fort, a testament to our growing understanding.

I have also recruited into my service a former slave of his, Nafira, blessed by the Moon (and whatever or whoever gives women their shapes). She is another obvious plant, to be sure, but a welcome one at that, as she has tribal roots and recognizes Anhk—and Akh—for what they truly are.

And now, Ankh, my guide and companion, has taken up residence in the Oasis of the White Palm, a place of great significance. From there, he embarks on a mission to lead the tribes back to the light of the Sun and Moon. But there's more to his story, for he has set off into the deep desert, promising a return with new revelations.

Emir Mulek deserves a second mention, as he is the man who set me on the path to Bastheth, the leopard-headed goddess of Al-Adiz. Into her cave, I descended, braving many dangers and temptations along the way until I stood before her sanctum in all my glory. There she abased herself before me, and in the Light of God, we were united, with her High Priestess, the lovely Nadia, who is both the least and the first, bearing witness.

As an aside, I am now technically married four times: to my no-quite-late wife, to Katrina Todbringer, to that waif from Barboza, whose name momentarily escapes me, and to Bastheth herself. But I have heard no objections from either gods or men, so I do consider it in accordance with the Law of the Land and God both.

PS I must admit that I rather like it here in Araby. So much so that going back to Nordland in winter seems somewhat less appealing lately.

PPS Araby is far larger than we have accounted for. It is composed of numerous lesser realms, all beholden to the Great Sultan, stretching from the Dead Lands in the east, all along the endless miles of coast to the Southlands—with the Great Desert in the middle.

From the Journal of one Wigmar Heck, pt 85 (Arabyan Nights)

 

16 Nachhexen 2502

Al-Adiz, Northern coast of Araby

Landfall.

It feels wondrously strange to finally set foot in the Old Country. I've talked about it with Ankh a lot, and dreamed of it frequently, but to be here is different.

20 Nachhexen 2502

Al-Adiz, Northern coast of Araby

Have made arrangements ashore, setting up trade relations with one Hakim ibn-Alim al-Hakk, Master of the Emporium of Heavenly Delight. A mystic by training, Hakim is one of the merchant lords of the city. And, perhaps, one of the faithful. In commercial matters, he will be most useful, I think, but he is also an important source of information about this strange land. Many things have changed since the Old Times and even Ankh does not seem to be aware of everything.

Their god, El, the One, IS the sun and thus IS Ankh. El is not the daemon "god" we have imagined (but there are clearly powerful, perhaps daemonic, entities in the desert, including one outside Al-Adiz, which we have to look into at some point). This is good, but it will be a while before All Araby accepts the fact. But in the deep desert, around the Oasis of the White Palm, there are still some tribes that hold to the old ways (why is it always the hill people that cling to the old ways?). This is where Ankh and Thes have gone.

Hakim's illegitimate daughter Sekhmet now serves me. Of course, this is no coincidence. Hakim has his reasons, I'm sure, but so does the Lord Sun. The girl is uniquely talented in drawing or painting a creature's inner nature, which defines it.

Through her drawings we have confirmed that the Everchild passed through Al-Adiz around two weeks ago. She was in the company of humans and bound. They took her into the desert. I have sent Thesalva in pursuit. We will wait in Al-Adiz for three weeks for Thes and the Child. If they do not return by then, I must sail north, but arrangements have been made.

Location: Al-Adiz, City of Panthers

 

The ancient city of Al-Adiz, known in ancient times as Hartagosa and more recently as Pantherburg, the City of the Crusaders, lies on the narrow, fertile strip on the northeastern coast of Araby. Nurtured by the sea yet enjoying a fine deep-water harbor, Al-Adiz is fortunate to be sheltered from the worst ravages of the desert by a series of steep hills to the south.

Originally settled during Classical times by the same peoples that eventually became Estalians and Tileans, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times during this period before being abandoned. The ruins were settled by the precursors to the Arabyans, then razed by the Nekheran Empire, but later rebuilt, then razed again, and... you get it.

In more modern times, Al-Adiz was one of the key strong points of the Knights Panthers during the Crusades, but it was later retaken by the Sultan of All Araby. The ruins of the last Panther castle to hold out in Araby, the Pantherversteck (said to be cursed OC), still overlook the city from a particularly tall and ragged cliff not ten miles away from the harbor.

While not the only town on the coast east of Al-Haikk (the capital of Araby), Al-Adiz is certainly the only important one. In population and size, it is comparable to Salzenmund, but it looks very different indeed, and if anything, the divide between rich and poor is even more pronounced. Indeed, such is the squalor of the common people that the city might well hold more people, but it clearly produces far less.

The city is governed by Emir Atmath ibn Summary al-Diddi, vassal to the Sultan of All Araby, governor of Al-Adiz, supreme commander of the garrison, defender of the faith, and a hundred other titles. His main job is to keep the city safe and under control and to make more gold flow to the Sultan. He's got to contend not only with internal challenges but also pirates (it's called the pirate coast for a reason) and vicious desert raiders. Sometimes evil spirits or undead threaten the city, as do cold-blooded crusaders from the far north...

This temporal ruler, who has extensive privileges and wealth, shares power with the Muftis, the cleric-lawyers of El, the twelve Magisters Emporium (guilders), various sects of Sahirs (philosopher-priests), Fakirs (Arabyan sorcerers), criminals, nobles, and many more besides. While everything is alien, it's not materially different from how things work in the Empire.

Araby & the Old World

 

An ancient realm of Men, Araby is a strange and exotic country, ruled by powerful sultans and desert sheiks. Araby is located south of the Old World, west of Nehekhara and northwest of the Southlands' rainforests. It rises across vast expanses of desert, and we find its cities on the Coast of Araby, to the west, to the northern borders of the Southlands.

The Arabyans are a strange bunch, where the divide between man and woman, rich and poor are even sharper than in the Old World. They worship both a nameless (called "el" or simply "THE" by the Arabyans, though they will sometimes use el-ilah meaning "THE GOD" when talking to outsiders) monotheistic god (abhorrent in the eyes of all Old Worlders) that exist beyond the ken of mortals and never interfere directly in the affairs of the world (so basically not really a god), and a bewildering array of otherworldly spirits called genies (Old Worlders know them for what they are: daemons).

The Old World has a long history of violent interaction with Araby. Many years ago the Arabyans were steadily expanding their influence in the southern parts of the Old World, practically conquering Estalia and invading Bretonnia, Tilea, and the Border Princes. Eventually, the Kings of Bretonnia and the Emperors of the Reik became concerned the foreigners would overrun the entire Old World. In an unusual display of cooperation, a series of great military expeditions were mounted against the defenders, eventually driving them from the Old World. Much of the fighting was conducted by knightly orders led by noble sons and large numbers of Tilean mercenaries, all paid for by the great lords of the Old World.

The Knights Panther were famously founded during this period and spearheaded the counter invasion of Araby. It well well for a time but eventually the northerners were driven into the sea. Nowadays there is more trade than war but the conflict between the north and south have never completely ceased. The Knights Panther, for example, still continue to raid the coastlands and skirmish at sea with Arabyan corsairs.