Lords of the East - Council Chambers

**Thanatos Eclipse** · 12-21-2009, 19:08

Femr’s face goes completely red; he clenches his fist as they start shaking; fire seems to leap into Femr’s eyes as his rage gets ready to burst out all over the Seljuk diplomat. Amr, expecting this reaction from the old sailor, has two of his crew drag Femr out of his chair and walk him quickly out of the room and back to his quarters where he can rant in private. Captain Amr then turns to the Seljuk diplomat and says calmly.

“Religious, HA! Those tyrants forgot about their duties to Allah and their people long ago. It is only out of the Admiral’s care for his people that he has allowed those tyrants to live so that they can return to their humble spiritual duties once more. If you actually read those books, you would have learned that the Admiralty freed the Omani from the slavery, oppression, and ‘bullying’ we suffered under those ‘old religious people’.”

Amr walks out of the room and the Omani delegation isn’t seen for a couple of days. It is widely assumed that they are “cooling down” at a more accepting location.

**Quirl** · 12-21-2009, 19:46

The woman laughs.

And diplomacy falls by the way side again.

She picks up one of the Omani books and continues to have her servant boy read to her.

At least someone has bothered to populate that wretched library here.

The boy turns a page.

**Quirl** · 12-28-2009, 11:34

Something is amiss in the courtroom. There is a change in the air, but it carries with it the scent of something old—something familiar—thought destroyed. The new Caliph has yet to be announced by the Seljuks and there is a mysterious dissension within their ranks. The Sultan's brother has been absent for several days and the court is growing restless.

All await the news of this new culling in Baghdad, and the air is thick with speculation, gossip, and expectation...

**Quirl** · 01-04-2010, 21:37

A Seljuk guard turns sideways to see the old woman waving her finger to him. There is a smile on her face as her gnarled fingernail beckons him over. He lets loose his position and starts towards her. Standing in front of her table, he claps his halberd on the floor and lowers his head, “What is it, woman?”

She smiles and turns to the young boy beside her, “Up, boy.”

Suddenly, the scared young boy who has been by her side all this time changes. His eyes become feral. His teeth form into a horrible maw. He growls once as he leaps at the guard, an impossible strength in his young body propelling him forward. He draws a dagger around the man’s neck and at the same time slams his head into the table in front of the witch.

The guard screams but his companions stop once they see the dagger hanging low at his jugular. The boy behind him pants and shakes, drooling slightly from his chattering teeth—inching the dagger just closer to the man’s throat—drawing just a bead of blood from his sweaty skin.

“Can you tell your absent masters,” the woman says, leaning in close. Behind the guard, the boy continues to rock and chatter—rock and chatter. “that unless we receive Kutaisi and Ani this season, our ghūl will leave the north and cover your lands beneath the hoof prints of our horses and the cries of your children?” She leans in closer. "Can you, my male master?"

The guard nods his head and as soon as he does so, the boy on top of him throws him away and crawls into the woman's lap. The man hits the floor with a thud and his companions gather around him to help him up.

The boy on the woman's lap hisses at them all—the old woman above him stroking his fur—cocking her head—continuing to smile.

**Thanatos Eclipse** · 01-05-2010, 00:47

The Omani delegation breaks out in laughter at the sight of the guard being easily handled by the small boy. They start to discuss amongst themselves the value and many ‘uses’ of such a ‘pet’, but when the conversation turns to the magic behind a creature like that, Captain Amr just snorts and goes back to sifting through his pile of letters. Femr and the other Omani spend the rest of the evening discussing magic and myths of old. There was even a subtle hint of actual respect coming from Femr whenever he mentioned the Qara Suu witch.

**MerlinusCDXX** · 01-08-2010, 01:39

A man in old style Caliphate regalia steps into the room

I regret our late absence from these chambers, as we have just dealt with the details of finalizing the recent regime change in the Caliphate. We are pleased to announce the new Caliph Tegin Toghrul, upon him be peace. The Caliphate announces the absorption of the Seljuk army into her ranks. As of now, the Oghuz Turks and the Arabs of Mesopotamia are as one. The faithful in the Oghuz lands were dissatisfied with the renegade former Sultan Arslanshah's aggressive misinterpretation of Islam. With the help of the foremost among the Seljuk General Staff, Arslan has been deposed and arrested. He is currently being transported to Baghdad to face the judgment of the Ulema and the Caliph. We hereby reopen diplomatic relations with all peaceful and reasonable nations that wish them. To the Qara Khagan, we have ceded Ani and Kutaisi as agreed by our predecessor, though we take dim view of the threatening posture shown by the Khagan's representatives. We advise that you do not do so again, for you may not enjoy what you unleash. The Caliph deems this instance as if it never happened, but will not suffer such insolence in his own court again.

Inshallah, and may a new era of peace grace our nations.

**Quirl** · 01-08-2010, 01:48

The woman bows.

Oh, forgive me, masters. But your predecessors seemed to only understand threats and violence. We were unaware of this regime change. But with the faithful at this empire's helm again, we look forward to more peaceful negotiations in the future...