RichGreen
Adventurer
Hi,
It’s a couple of days later than planned, but here’s the 14th and penultimate 13th Age icon for the Parsantium campaign setting. The final icon, the Rajah, should follow in a week or so. You can check out the others in the series here and this map should help with the geography.
THE CALIPH
The Great Caliph, Faisal al-Aqil, Most Blessed Disciple of the One True God, Supreme Potentate of the Desert Realms, Grand Sultan of the Sparkling Sea, Conqueror of Khemit and Protector of Parsantium, rules the Caliphate of Aqhran, the vast desert kingdom to the southwest of Parsantium.
QUOTE
“Though the scimitar and the bow have their uses, it is through wisdom and learning that we will achieve true greatness.”
USUAL LOCATION
In his golden palace, the Medina Azhara ("City of Flowers”), in Qadisa, capital of the Caliphate of Aqhran.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Caliph Faisal al-Aqil has only sat on the golden throne of Aqhran for four years, but to date the young monarch has ruled the kingdom well. The Caliph has shown himself willing to listen to counsel from the leading imams of Amur (the Aqhrani god) and has demonstrated both piety and wisdom. Handsome and charming, he has a calm temperament, given to reason over passion.
Faisal al-Aqil is a scholar and an astronomer who sees himself as the spiritual heir to Hulieman, Parsantium’s great sultan and an enlightened ruler with a passionate interest in the stars. Under his influence, sages and philosophers from all over the world have been encouraged to visit the House of Wisdom, Qadisa’s great university, and share their knowledge with Aqhrani scholars. The Caliph dreams of ushering in a new “golden age” but first he must deal with several major threats to Aqhran’s stability.
Since the Water Lords of Loranto won “most favoured trading partner” status in Parsantium following their support for Corandias’ Great Crusade, the city state’s growth in power shows no sign of slowing down, while the Caliphate’s wealth and influence declines. To the south, the nomadic ifrit tribes of the desert have come under the leadership of an efreeti warlord named Saleem al-Nuri who is carving out a new emirate amidst the shifting sands, conducting frequent raids across the border into Caliphate territory. And to the northeast, in the lost kingdom of Khemit, the Mummy is beginning to stir.
Faisal al-Aqil would love to bring Parsantium back under the Caliphate’s aegis, but knows that this is unlikely to happen. The next best thing is to become the Free City’s preferred trading partner once again, making conflict with the Water Lords likely. The Caliph has been discreetly issuing pirates on the Corsairs’ Sea with letters of marque encouraging them to attack merchant vessels from Loranto. He is playing a dangerous game by doing this as the scurvy dogs are not known for their loyalty or discretion, but he is willing to take a calculated risk if it means trouble for the Water Lords.
ADVENTURERS & THE ICON
Many Aqhrani adventurers from Parsantium’s Old Quarter are happy to serve the Caliph, and gnoll mercenaries often enter his service to defend the kingdom’s borders or to fight on board its merchant dhows. Missions on the Caliph’s behalf could include protecting the interests of House Qasim from the machinations of the Bathuran nobility, or venturing into trap-filled tombs in the Hidden Quarter on behalf of Imam Efrat of the Golden Mosque. The Caliph is keen to obtain the secret alchemical recipe for Parsantine Fire and will pay a handsome fee to anyone brave enough to steal it from the vaults beneath the Garrison. It is rumoured that the crime lord Sheikh Babak al-Hasid has secured the services of the notorious Juma Associates to obtain the formula for Aqhran.
ALLIES
The Caliph is on good terms with the Maharani, and merchants from Ezirat and Rahad are frequent visitors to the Sampuran port of Surivata; the Emperor of the Jade Throne is another important trading partner. Faisal al-Aqil is, of course, at pains to maintain a strong, positive relationship with the Basileus to protect Aqhrani trade with Parsantium, but he has also had at least one discreet conversation with the Boss of All Bosses – through intermediaries, naturally.
ENEMIES
The Water Lords offer a serious challenge to the Caliphate’s traditional dominance over maritime trade on the Corsairs’ Sea and Faisal al-Aqil yearns to contain their power. There is no love lost between him and the Archbishop (who has allied himself with Loranto) either. The Mummy is another foe: Queen Merytnofru has sworn revenge on the Caliph for her downfall 1,500 years ago at the hands of Aqhran’s armies.
HISTORY
The Caliphate of Aqhran began life nearly 2,000 years when the First Caliph was chosen by his peers as the wisest among them and thus fit to rule over them in the newly founded city of Qadisa. Since that time the empire’s territory has expanded through exploration, pacts with genie lords, war, and, above all, trade. The current Caliph was the youngest son of the previous ruler and was not expected to inherit the throne: Faisal al-Aqil was a student of mathematics and astronomy at the House of Wisdom, with two older brothers, both skilled warriors. However, four years ago Faisal’s father and both siblings were killed in a fierce border skirmish with the ifrits, and the young scholar became the Caliph.
THE TRUE DANGER
Everything will be alright while Aqhran stands firm against the efreeti warlord and his army.
Comments or questions gladly received!
Cheers
Rich
It’s a couple of days later than planned, but here’s the 14th and penultimate 13th Age icon for the Parsantium campaign setting. The final icon, the Rajah, should follow in a week or so. You can check out the others in the series here and this map should help with the geography.
THE CALIPH
The Great Caliph, Faisal al-Aqil, Most Blessed Disciple of the One True God, Supreme Potentate of the Desert Realms, Grand Sultan of the Sparkling Sea, Conqueror of Khemit and Protector of Parsantium, rules the Caliphate of Aqhran, the vast desert kingdom to the southwest of Parsantium.
QUOTE
“Though the scimitar and the bow have their uses, it is through wisdom and learning that we will achieve true greatness.”
USUAL LOCATION
In his golden palace, the Medina Azhara ("City of Flowers”), in Qadisa, capital of the Caliphate of Aqhran.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE
Caliph Faisal al-Aqil has only sat on the golden throne of Aqhran for four years, but to date the young monarch has ruled the kingdom well. The Caliph has shown himself willing to listen to counsel from the leading imams of Amur (the Aqhrani god) and has demonstrated both piety and wisdom. Handsome and charming, he has a calm temperament, given to reason over passion.
Faisal al-Aqil is a scholar and an astronomer who sees himself as the spiritual heir to Hulieman, Parsantium’s great sultan and an enlightened ruler with a passionate interest in the stars. Under his influence, sages and philosophers from all over the world have been encouraged to visit the House of Wisdom, Qadisa’s great university, and share their knowledge with Aqhrani scholars. The Caliph dreams of ushering in a new “golden age” but first he must deal with several major threats to Aqhran’s stability.
Since the Water Lords of Loranto won “most favoured trading partner” status in Parsantium following their support for Corandias’ Great Crusade, the city state’s growth in power shows no sign of slowing down, while the Caliphate’s wealth and influence declines. To the south, the nomadic ifrit tribes of the desert have come under the leadership of an efreeti warlord named Saleem al-Nuri who is carving out a new emirate amidst the shifting sands, conducting frequent raids across the border into Caliphate territory. And to the northeast, in the lost kingdom of Khemit, the Mummy is beginning to stir.
Faisal al-Aqil would love to bring Parsantium back under the Caliphate’s aegis, but knows that this is unlikely to happen. The next best thing is to become the Free City’s preferred trading partner once again, making conflict with the Water Lords likely. The Caliph has been discreetly issuing pirates on the Corsairs’ Sea with letters of marque encouraging them to attack merchant vessels from Loranto. He is playing a dangerous game by doing this as the scurvy dogs are not known for their loyalty or discretion, but he is willing to take a calculated risk if it means trouble for the Water Lords.
ADVENTURERS & THE ICON
Many Aqhrani adventurers from Parsantium’s Old Quarter are happy to serve the Caliph, and gnoll mercenaries often enter his service to defend the kingdom’s borders or to fight on board its merchant dhows. Missions on the Caliph’s behalf could include protecting the interests of House Qasim from the machinations of the Bathuran nobility, or venturing into trap-filled tombs in the Hidden Quarter on behalf of Imam Efrat of the Golden Mosque. The Caliph is keen to obtain the secret alchemical recipe for Parsantine Fire and will pay a handsome fee to anyone brave enough to steal it from the vaults beneath the Garrison. It is rumoured that the crime lord Sheikh Babak al-Hasid has secured the services of the notorious Juma Associates to obtain the formula for Aqhran.
ALLIES
The Caliph is on good terms with the Maharani, and merchants from Ezirat and Rahad are frequent visitors to the Sampuran port of Surivata; the Emperor of the Jade Throne is another important trading partner. Faisal al-Aqil is, of course, at pains to maintain a strong, positive relationship with the Basileus to protect Aqhrani trade with Parsantium, but he has also had at least one discreet conversation with the Boss of All Bosses – through intermediaries, naturally.
ENEMIES
The Water Lords offer a serious challenge to the Caliphate’s traditional dominance over maritime trade on the Corsairs’ Sea and Faisal al-Aqil yearns to contain their power. There is no love lost between him and the Archbishop (who has allied himself with Loranto) either. The Mummy is another foe: Queen Merytnofru has sworn revenge on the Caliph for her downfall 1,500 years ago at the hands of Aqhran’s armies.
HISTORY
The Caliphate of Aqhran began life nearly 2,000 years when the First Caliph was chosen by his peers as the wisest among them and thus fit to rule over them in the newly founded city of Qadisa. Since that time the empire’s territory has expanded through exploration, pacts with genie lords, war, and, above all, trade. The current Caliph was the youngest son of the previous ruler and was not expected to inherit the throne: Faisal al-Aqil was a student of mathematics and astronomy at the House of Wisdom, with two older brothers, both skilled warriors. However, four years ago Faisal’s father and both siblings were killed in a fierce border skirmish with the ifrits, and the young scholar became the Caliph.
THE TRUE DANGER
Everything will be alright while Aqhran stands firm against the efreeti warlord and his army.
Comments or questions gladly received!
Cheers
Rich
