Omar bin Woken.
Background
It was no small thing for young Omar. He had reveled in his parents' many tales all his young life. He knew them all by heart. And he retold them to his younger siblings. He even added a little of his own flair to the tales. So when the offer came to explore some of the world himself, he jumped at the opportunity with both feet forward. Little did he know just how naïve a lad he was?
His parents sent him to a distant school with a wise mentor, Hakim al Ulnae, first prophet of the whispering woodwind. A strict but kindly man was Omar's mentor. He taught Omar all the eager lad could handle. New languages, new prose, new instruments, the ways of court, the proper use of pipeweed, the price of tea in Shou Lung, and much much more.
Unfortunately, Hakim el Ulnae was not alone. He had a daughter. And all to soon Omar's mind and lessons wandered. What a flower. What a true and wondrous creature.
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread – and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise now
Ah Love! Could you and I with Him conspire
To grasp this sorry scheme of things entire
Would not we shatter to bits – and then
Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's Desire
Long were the days spent in the damsel Gulnare's company. And they spent the nights staring at the Constellation Lyra. The lyre was first invented by Mercury when he attached strings to an empty tortoise shell. Later he traded it to Apollo, who gave it to his son Orpheus. And Orpheus being mostly mortal eventually became the greatest of musicians and he past this knowledge to his heirs. And in no small part this was why the two lovers had met.
Only it was Omar's wish not to follow in Orpheus's fated footsteps. For though, Orpheus was known as a great hero and musician, his lost love was his greatest tale. He tempted fate and visited the underworld to retrieve her. And he would've succeeded if not for his ill timed rejoicing. He turned too soon and the Gods snatched her back. Never again would Orpheus see her while he lived. He wandered a lonely soul thereafter.
Omar took this tale and tucked it away. He would not let it happened to him. He would not…
But oh how fickle love and fate truly are.
Hakim was old when first Omar met him. And older still when Omar was finished with his lessons. And even older still when Omar approached his former mentor for the hand of his beloved, Guldare. Hakim required a final test to prove his worth.
"Observe, my son," said Hakim, "what I direct. Descend into this cave, and when you are at the bottom of those steps you will find a door which will lead you into a spacious vault, divided into three great halls, in each of which you will see four large brass cisterns placed on each side, full of gold and silver; but take care you do not meddle with them. Before you enter the first hall, be sure to tuck up your vest, wrap it about you, and then pass through the second into the third without stopping. Above all, have a care that you do not touch the walls; for if you do, you will die instantly. At the end of the third hall, you will find a door which opens into a garden planted with fine trees loaded with fruit; walk directly across the garden by a path which will lead you to five steps that
will bring you upon a terrace, where you will see a niche before you, and in that niche a lighted lamp. Take the lamp down, and extinguish it; when you have thrown away the wick, and poured out the liquor, put it in your vestband and bring it to me. Do not be afraid that the liquor will spoil your clothes, for it is not oil; and the lamp will be dry as soon as it is thrown out. If you should wish for any of the fruit of the garden, you may gather as much as you please."
After these words, Hakim drew a cloak around Omar's shoulders, telling him that it was a preservative against all evil, while he should observe what he had prescribed to him. After this instruction he said: "Go down boldly, child, and we shall both be rich all the rest of our days."
Omar descended into the cave. He followed all of Hakim's instructions to the letter. And when he reached the garden filled his pockets and clothes with the beautiful fruit as a reward.
"Pray, father, lend me your hand, to help me out." Omar called.
"Omar," Hakim answered, "pass me up the lamp. I am sure it is a
burden."
"Help me out of the cave," Omar called back. "The lamp is no trouble."
It was here that things got ugly. Hakim became very obstinate. He became enraged with Omar and flew into a passion. He threw a little of his magic and closed the mouth of the cave. This action plainly showed him to be neither Omar's friend nor future father-in-law. He was a man possessed with one singular desire, the lamp.
Omar plugged his ears and fled back into the cave. Several days later he escaped. Hakim and Guldare were gone. And Omar still had the lamp and the cloak. He returned to the place of his birth. Calimport. And to the household
of merchants he once called family. And like all true members of the Fellowship he was now ready for the cruel world.
His first mission. To recruit his siblings (tho not real blood relations) to his cause. The mute, Sargazzo, was the first.
Footnote: none of this is overly original. you will recognize parts of this story from Tales of a Thousand and One Nights, The Arabian Nights, Bullfinch's Mythology, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and Constellations: Glimpses of infinity in fact, myth, and legend.
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