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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jago" data-source="post: 6967520" data-attributes="member: 6855130">[align=left]http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x111/tranced89/Kaniel%20Avatar.png[/align]Curious. Very curious. The Badu al-Kabir seemed to be the likely source of these raids, however: Nothing could live there. Even the mightiest of House Nasr preferred to stay away from that dead land. An Al-Hadhar had once tried to inform Kaniel that the Al-Badia loved the desert. This was simply not true. While they greatly respected their home and its lands, they did not love it. No man loved the desert. Even the Al-Badia loved water, and green trees. There was nothing in the desert, and no man needs nothing. The exception to this was the Efreet. The Efreet loved the desert, like no mortal ever could, and if, if they were truly involved in these raids, it would make sense that they would base themselves in such an inhospitable place. The Efreet were quite territorial, it was true: It was not uncommon for Mamluk patrols or Al-Badia riders to skirmish with them, but to demand so much in tribute that the bearers must resort to banditry? Did that brass City not provide enough wealth?" This makes ... relatively little sense," Kaniel stated flatly, right before the salt was placed before him. He grinned a bit upon seeing the small ritual that the Sheikh partook, replicating it when he consecrated The Bond of Salt. As the grains skittered to the floor behind him, He found that he cared not if others would judge him as a "simple" desert dweller: if it was good enough for the ruler of Tajar, it was good enough for a simple servant of The Caliph. With the sharp taste of salt upon his tongue, Kaniel continued his line of thought." Tribute is not tribute if it comes from these sources. No mortal or jann would dare accept such a gift, lest they would invite the Vengeance of The Gods. Tribute ... I do not think this is about mere wealth, if you will allow my opinion, Son of Hamid," Kaniel asked of Salahuddin, " But raids such as this are sometimes used by Mamluk. Strike fast, strike hard, strike indiscriminately, like a Sandstorm, and throw your enemy into disarray. Look at us now! Even we struggle to identify their true goals."He frowned, his tusks biting gently into his mustache. Kaniel was accustomed to not knowing much of his foes: The Valiant often fought things which had no names in the Enlightened tongue. However, it did not mean he enjoyed it." Though the black-robed assailants ..."The Half-Orc lost his voice for a moment, his yellow eyes gazing towards a far wall and staying there. A night of blood, and fire. Of the Desert Mosque, its proud walls in dark danger. Of black robes spewing fire." These ... these black robes," he continued on, faltering at first before finding his voice once more, " They are the very same that your Vizier, Gracious Sheikh, was accused of wearing. Najiyah was untruthfully named as a member of a Brotherhood."Kaniel recalled the words of the siblings: the boiling anger of the brother, the calm wind of the sister. How wronged they had been." A Brotherhood of Flame. Your humble Mamluk suggests that if Efreet are involved, if this Brotherhood is involved, if these attacks are connected, and if this servant of The Gods were leading such dastardly affronts (May Najm lose me in The Haunted Lands should I ever become so irredeemable)?"The Half-Orc's green finger struck the map, below the Sinna, west of the Hakim." That is where I would roam. Far from Tajar, far from the jann of Qaybar, beyond a man's ability to carry water and salt. For no man loves the desert, but those who love fire would bear that burn if it suited their purposes."He withdrew his touch, leaning back and sipping slowly from the refreshing, cool drink in his other hand. Inclining his head in respect, he finished with a softer tone." Your merchants here may know far more than we here, in these walls, could ever hope to. I would accompany Vizier Akilah should she speak with these entrepreneurs, which I suggest we do, with deference to the Wisdom of a Priestess of Hakiyah."</blockquote>

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