Lords of the East - Council Chambers

[Quirl]

The sounds outside stopped nearly an hour ago. There is an earie silence carried in by the wind. Some crows are suddenly startled—settling around in the nearby windows. The silence still perpetuates, with the wind animating what life there is in the chamber.

Outside the doors, there is suddenly walking. More footsteps accompany it. High above in the rafters, more crows settle in—staring off at the doors—fidgeting their feathers. A single crow caws and the doors open.

The hinges squeal and there is an echo across the courtroom.

A man enters.

He wears an eccentric looking dress. His sleeves are covered in dark feathers. Most of his body is covered in blue silk. And on his face is a decorative, white and gold mask—where underneath, foreign, strange eyes stare out.

Merhaba sadiqs. I am Akin Turan…. humble merchant and diplomat of the ghūl. I will be their voice here today and may I firstly say the Qara-Suu mean our good masters in the Caliph’s courtroom no harm. Not even the crusader's representative we threaten... as this was all just business, sadiq.

He puts his palm over his forehead

We regret that this city must come to pain again… and that we must be the hargingers of this pain… but we are mere slaves, sadiqs… wishing nothing beyond what simple services we can provide to master and contract.

He looks above him to the crows settling in on top the rafters in the ceiling. Then he looks back down…

I also speak for Our Lady--Kamelya Kadri. She invites all of you to Qara-Qale... our new capital in the Georgian mountains. Once the great city of Tbilisi, its majestic halls and kingly suites have been prepared in anticipation of your arrival...

... the mountains are green. The skies are always blue. There is forever a winter breeze flowing in the air, but the land is still touched by the sun... and thus it is neither too cold nor too hot. I expect you will find it more suitable than the desert. Though Qara-Qale will always fall short to the splendor of this city, it will nonetheless provide better shelter than Baghdad has thus been able to afford our good masters here today.

He bows.

Is our invitation well met, my lords?