Okay I have my background mostly complete. I think I need a little more but not sure what. What does everyone think?
Born in the City of Wands Salahuddin grew up under the tutelage of his father Hamid Al-Qadib. His father is an instructor at the University of the Sand and a competent Elementalist of the Covenant of Sand. Salahuddin was not a studious child. It was not that he was not smart or capable he just did not care for his father’s passion. This was a disappointment for Hamid who envisioned his son rise through the ranks of the University. As his father pushed him to grow up and meet his potential Salahuddin continued to shirk his studies. Instead he would explore the city and the catacombs beneath.
It was in these catacombs that Salahuddin's life would forever change. In a dusty and forgotten passage he found a door. It was made of steel and ice formed the frame and it was calling to him. Being a boy of only ten, curiosity took over. Salahuddin opened the strange door. Blinding light shone through the door and without looking back he stepped through. He was hit by the cold and the wind. Unsure of where he was and unnerved by the wind he turned to head back and nearly stepped of a ledge into nothingness. The doorway was gone. He looked in disbelief for a minute and slowly backed away from the edge. Scared now, Salahuddin turned and began searching for some way home. He searched futilely until he walked into a open air market filled with Djinn. Salahuddin opened his mouth in shock and promptly feinted. When he came too he was in a silk clad room. Sitting near the bed was a genie valet. He smiled at Salahuddin and pointed to a tray with food and drink and then disappeared. Minutes later a Djinn floated in and smiled. She informed Salahuddin that he was in the Citadel of Ice and Steel and was an honored guest of Great Caliph Husam al-Balil ben Nafhat al-Yugayyim. Salahuddin was told to dress and prepare himself for an audience.
Salahuddin was escorted to the central Court and brought before the Grand Caliph. Held aloft by buffeting winds he was questioned by the Grand Caliph and his court. Salahuddin explained about the doorway and how it seemed to call to him. A murmur ran through the court like a breeze when the doorway was mentioned. At the end of his tale the Grand Caliph and his court entered discussions in their strange language. To the young boy hanging in the air in front of them it sounded like a hurricane. Several minutes later he was addressed again. The named him Alrriah Yusamma, the Wind Called. The doorway he had found was an ancient artifact ‘The Door of the Four Winds’. It was said to appear to those who will be important to the Grand Caliph and bring them to his domain. I was to remain an honored guest until the Grand Caliphs Viziers could determine why the doorway called me. Salahuddin was to stay with his current host Caliph Fatima ibn Zaida Mistress of the Northern Gale.
Salahuddin was tutored by his new guardians. He was taught about genie society and culture. Saladin was schooled in the genie tongue. Once he had mastered these things he was given access to the Citadel with the assistance of the Genie Valet that was always by his side. His host, the Venerable Fatima ibn Zaida, grew fond of him. Salahuddin was not sure if this fondness was for him personally or the prestige being his host brought her. He spent ten years as honored guest.
It was ten years to the day that Salahuddin had appeared in the Citadel that he was brought before the Grand Caliph again. It was decided that Salahuddin was to be trained as a Sha’ir. He would swear to Great Caliph Husam al-Balil ben Nafhat al-Yugayyim, the Master of the Clouds and Son of the Breezes, the Commander of the Four Winds, Defender of the Heavens, Prince of Birds, Storm of the Righteous, and Master of the Air. He would be Salahuddin’s patron and the man would be the Great Caliph’s will in the prime material plane. Salahuddin would become Caliph Fatima ibn Zaida consort and she would teach him in the ways of the Sha’ir. Salahuddin had no choice but to accept or remain on the Plane of Air for the remainder of his life.
After more years of study with his new consort he learned the secrets of the Sha’ir. He was finally deemed ready to return to the Prime Material. Before Salahuddin left the Venerable Fatima spoke with him. She told him to listen to the wind. It would bring him his masters will. She also said that the doorway would appear again one day. It would reunite Salahuddin with her and return him to the Great Caliph in a time of need. She then kissed Salahuddin on the cheek and his vision went white. He heard the wind rush by and what he thought was Fatima calling him his love and then he felt the heat of the desert. He was standing in the streets of Qadib twenty years from the day he left.
