The Heirs to the Burning Thrones
Brother Shatterstone - Samira, Radiant Jewel of Ala’Kamal - NG Female Flamekissed Half-Nymph Unfettered 7/Rogue 5/Seductress 5
Lady Shatterstone - Nafeesa, Tribe of One - NG Female Gemchild Druid 3/Desert Ranger 6/Sorcerer 6/Mystic Wander 4
khavren - Abdul-Hadid, Retired Imperial Scout - LN Male Human Desert Ranger 8/Rogue 4/Bondblade 5
Keia - Jibril the Windwalker (Jibril a’Mussan) - N Male Human Rogue 4/Fighter 4/Elocater 5/Kineticist 7
Rystil Arden - Shalah, Flower of the Hidden Oasis and Ala’Kamal’s Fallen Star - CG Female Human Genie-Kin Rogue 4/BoEM Bard 9/Seductress 4
Dark Nemesis - Tariq Salim - LN Male Gemchild Shasa Sorcerer 9/Monk 7
Tarek al Saoud, Wrath of the Spirits , Exalted priest of the Five Pillars - NG Male Gemchild Soulknife 10/Kineticist 8/Elocater 1
Ladies and gentlemen, as per the usual, actions between *asterisks,* speech in "quotes," and thoughts in italics. Something in a different language I'll put in spoiler text with a notation as to the language, so only highlight it if you know the language.
OOC RG
And now the story begins...
~~~~~~
*Rashida, the "matron" of Ala'Kamal's harem, came through the carved marble archways, setting the silk curtains fluttering as she went. She dashed by the splashing fountains and small gardens, past the harem girls lounging on silk cushions and practicing their music, to the elegantly-appointed chamber that held the Radiant Jewel of the sultan.*
"Samira, child, I bring news from the sultan. He has a very powerful and wealthy guest dining with him tonight, and desires you to dance for them at dinner. Come, I'll help you prepare, you haven't a moment to lose!" she says, starting to gather Samira's hair together to begin to braid and pin it, gesturing to the younger girls to fetch the jewel coffers and open the wardrobes.
~~~
*Abdul-Hadid sighted the desert hare that bounded from the scrub juniper around, and relaxed as he realized it was no threat. You're jumpy today, Seif al Din commented as Abdul-Hadid bent down to fill his waterskin. Sirrocco pushed past him to refill his own reserves, the camel slurping down the water at a prodigious rate.*
"Lovely beast," says an unexpected voice. Rising, Abdul-Hadid can see there's a powerful and rich-looking older man leaning against one of the palms. Sturdily-build, wearing red and gold silks, he presents a curious sight. He's not in the least dusty from traveling in the desert, and he seems to be carrying no waterskin, no pack, not even a dagger. And he wasn't there a moment ago, Abdul-Hadid was certain of it.
~~~
"Nafeesa... Nafeesa, wake up!" a voice says, cutting through the gemchild's remaining dreams. Waking up, Nafeesa sees Talib, the spirit talker of the Windfire tribe of the Nessarine. She was resting in his tent after helping with the birth of the baby last night. "Someone is here asking for you. We don't know how he found us, or how he knew you were here, or even how he traveled here, for he looks as if he just stepped out of a bathhouse. Come."
*After readying herself, she comes outside to a rather odd sight. An elegant young man with a tidy, pointed beard, wearing the silks of a very prosperous merchant or noble, is standing at the boundaries of the camp, five warriors around him with drawn scimitars barring his way. When he sees you, he smiles, showing a smile of entirely golden teeth.*
~~~
*Jibril skimmed above the dunes around Harr, his head wrapped against the morning sun as he finished his last sweep south of the city. He had seen no signs of monsters or bandits, a welcome change after last week's violent battle with a hunger-maddened sand kraken. In the distance he could see the two other Windwalkers starting to return, and he turned to go back to rest as well.*
*As he turned, he was started by the sudden and entirely unexpected appearance of a woman. She was entirely covered from head to foot, as young wives were often expected to be in public, in fine robes of gold and cream. Golden eyes looked at him from the slit in her hood as she raised a single henna-tattooed palm for him to halt.*
"Greetings Jibril," she says in Ignan, her voice cracking through the morning air like the crackle of flames. What perhaps is most disturbing is that she wasn't there a moment ago.
~~~
*Shalah knew something important was happening in the household today. Dharr had told her he had a terribly important guest coming to dinner, and asked her to dance for them, but there was an expectation in the air beyond that. The house was buzzing with excitement, and while Shalah prepared, the servants had given her maddening tidbits of information about the guest. He was known as Wajih, a merchant prince of sorts that dealt only with nobles, fabulously wealthy merchants, and the sultans. He was said to deal in exotic spices, exotic slaves, and exotic beasts from across the sea. One of the servant girls said he had brought a bird that was painted different colors and could talk!*
*Prepared to dance, she waited in the silk-screen doorway for her cue. As Dharr's musicians struck up a sensuous tune, Shalah whirled into action. As Twice-Cursed was woven through her hands and across her body in time to the music, Shalah caught sight of the blades, glowing faintly gold. It was hard to tell in the candlelight, but Shalah knew that glow. A genie was close, someone like her perhaps, a genie-kin, a flamekissed...*
*As she danced she saw the lauded Wajih, a princely man built like a warrior, with perfect bronze skin, hair a striking color of rubies, and a neat moustache and beard. He is wearing a tapestried garment of gold and red, sparkling with gems and metallic thread. He wore an elaborate knife at his side, and on his shoulder was a fantastic bird covered in red, blue, green, and yellow feathers. Astonishingly it spoke to her.*
"Pretty girl! Pretty girl!" Wajih, on the other hand, only gave a small, secretive smile. The dance done, Dharr called her up to the dias.
"May I present my finest concubine, Shalah," he says with a bit of pride. Wajih looks at her for a moment, and then smiles, revealing teeth like pearls.
"This fallen star is twice as beautiful as any in the sky, and such a flower should never be hidden away in a desert oasis," he says lightly.
~~~
*Tariq stood before a simple door in a middle-class quarter of Sagheer. Clues and hints had lead him to believe that Hamal, a maker and seller of decorative pots, could lead him closer to his father. Raising his hand, he was about to knock when a heavy hand closed on his wrist. Turning, startled, a strangers face was revealed in the flickering torchlight beside the door.*
*His face was clever and narrow, like a keen-eyed cat, and his skin showed the hue of one who often walked the desert roads, being deep bronze. He was by far the tallest man Tariq had ever seen, his height exaggerated by a tall white turban with a large ruby set in front. His clothes were of the finest quality, and the knife at his side was so encrusted with gems it would be worth a noble's ransom.*
"Good evening Tariq," he murmured in a voice like rumbling thunder.
Brother Shatterstone - Samira, Radiant Jewel of Ala’Kamal - NG Female Flamekissed Half-Nymph Unfettered 7/Rogue 5/Seductress 5
Lady Shatterstone - Nafeesa, Tribe of One - NG Female Gemchild Druid 3/Desert Ranger 6/Sorcerer 6/Mystic Wander 4
khavren - Abdul-Hadid, Retired Imperial Scout - LN Male Human Desert Ranger 8/Rogue 4/Bondblade 5
Keia - Jibril the Windwalker (Jibril a’Mussan) - N Male Human Rogue 4/Fighter 4/Elocater 5/Kineticist 7
Rystil Arden - Shalah, Flower of the Hidden Oasis and Ala’Kamal’s Fallen Star - CG Female Human Genie-Kin Rogue 4/BoEM Bard 9/Seductress 4
Dark Nemesis - Tariq Salim - LN Male Gemchild Shasa Sorcerer 9/Monk 7
Tarek al Saoud, Wrath of the Spirits , Exalted priest of the Five Pillars - NG Male Gemchild Soulknife 10/Kineticist 8/Elocater 1
Ladies and gentlemen, as per the usual, actions between *asterisks,* speech in "quotes," and thoughts in italics. Something in a different language I'll put in spoiler text with a notation as to the language, so only highlight it if you know the language.
OOC RG
And now the story begins...
~~~~~~
*Rashida, the "matron" of Ala'Kamal's harem, came through the carved marble archways, setting the silk curtains fluttering as she went. She dashed by the splashing fountains and small gardens, past the harem girls lounging on silk cushions and practicing their music, to the elegantly-appointed chamber that held the Radiant Jewel of the sultan.*
"Samira, child, I bring news from the sultan. He has a very powerful and wealthy guest dining with him tonight, and desires you to dance for them at dinner. Come, I'll help you prepare, you haven't a moment to lose!" she says, starting to gather Samira's hair together to begin to braid and pin it, gesturing to the younger girls to fetch the jewel coffers and open the wardrobes.
~~~
*Abdul-Hadid sighted the desert hare that bounded from the scrub juniper around, and relaxed as he realized it was no threat. You're jumpy today, Seif al Din commented as Abdul-Hadid bent down to fill his waterskin. Sirrocco pushed past him to refill his own reserves, the camel slurping down the water at a prodigious rate.*
"Lovely beast," says an unexpected voice. Rising, Abdul-Hadid can see there's a powerful and rich-looking older man leaning against one of the palms. Sturdily-build, wearing red and gold silks, he presents a curious sight. He's not in the least dusty from traveling in the desert, and he seems to be carrying no waterskin, no pack, not even a dagger. And he wasn't there a moment ago, Abdul-Hadid was certain of it.
~~~
"Nafeesa... Nafeesa, wake up!" a voice says, cutting through the gemchild's remaining dreams. Waking up, Nafeesa sees Talib, the spirit talker of the Windfire tribe of the Nessarine. She was resting in his tent after helping with the birth of the baby last night. "Someone is here asking for you. We don't know how he found us, or how he knew you were here, or even how he traveled here, for he looks as if he just stepped out of a bathhouse. Come."
*After readying herself, she comes outside to a rather odd sight. An elegant young man with a tidy, pointed beard, wearing the silks of a very prosperous merchant or noble, is standing at the boundaries of the camp, five warriors around him with drawn scimitars barring his way. When he sees you, he smiles, showing a smile of entirely golden teeth.*
~~~
*Jibril skimmed above the dunes around Harr, his head wrapped against the morning sun as he finished his last sweep south of the city. He had seen no signs of monsters or bandits, a welcome change after last week's violent battle with a hunger-maddened sand kraken. In the distance he could see the two other Windwalkers starting to return, and he turned to go back to rest as well.*
*As he turned, he was started by the sudden and entirely unexpected appearance of a woman. She was entirely covered from head to foot, as young wives were often expected to be in public, in fine robes of gold and cream. Golden eyes looked at him from the slit in her hood as she raised a single henna-tattooed palm for him to halt.*
"Greetings Jibril," she says in Ignan, her voice cracking through the morning air like the crackle of flames. What perhaps is most disturbing is that she wasn't there a moment ago.
~~~
*Shalah knew something important was happening in the household today. Dharr had told her he had a terribly important guest coming to dinner, and asked her to dance for them, but there was an expectation in the air beyond that. The house was buzzing with excitement, and while Shalah prepared, the servants had given her maddening tidbits of information about the guest. He was known as Wajih, a merchant prince of sorts that dealt only with nobles, fabulously wealthy merchants, and the sultans. He was said to deal in exotic spices, exotic slaves, and exotic beasts from across the sea. One of the servant girls said he had brought a bird that was painted different colors and could talk!*
*Prepared to dance, she waited in the silk-screen doorway for her cue. As Dharr's musicians struck up a sensuous tune, Shalah whirled into action. As Twice-Cursed was woven through her hands and across her body in time to the music, Shalah caught sight of the blades, glowing faintly gold. It was hard to tell in the candlelight, but Shalah knew that glow. A genie was close, someone like her perhaps, a genie-kin, a flamekissed...*
*As she danced she saw the lauded Wajih, a princely man built like a warrior, with perfect bronze skin, hair a striking color of rubies, and a neat moustache and beard. He is wearing a tapestried garment of gold and red, sparkling with gems and metallic thread. He wore an elaborate knife at his side, and on his shoulder was a fantastic bird covered in red, blue, green, and yellow feathers. Astonishingly it spoke to her.*
"Pretty girl! Pretty girl!" Wajih, on the other hand, only gave a small, secretive smile. The dance done, Dharr called her up to the dias.
"May I present my finest concubine, Shalah," he says with a bit of pride. Wajih looks at her for a moment, and then smiles, revealing teeth like pearls.
"This fallen star is twice as beautiful as any in the sky, and such a flower should never be hidden away in a desert oasis," he says lightly.
~~~
*Tariq stood before a simple door in a middle-class quarter of Sagheer. Clues and hints had lead him to believe that Hamal, a maker and seller of decorative pots, could lead him closer to his father. Raising his hand, he was about to knock when a heavy hand closed on his wrist. Turning, startled, a strangers face was revealed in the flickering torchlight beside the door.*
*His face was clever and narrow, like a keen-eyed cat, and his skin showed the hue of one who often walked the desert roads, being deep bronze. He was by far the tallest man Tariq had ever seen, his height exaggerated by a tall white turban with a large ruby set in front. His clothes were of the finest quality, and the knife at his side was so encrusted with gems it would be worth a noble's ransom.*
"Good evening Tariq," he murmured in a voice like rumbling thunder.
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