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Post by Vizier Malik Al-Zahhak on Sept 4, 2013 23:23:21 GMT
Panic and despair sweep the streets of Yesad as the esteemed Amir Abu Graford al-Feyis has been KILLED! Found in his bed with a blooded dagger by his side and gashed neck, the noble Amir of State no longer remains in the presence of the good people of the Yesadi Sultanate. Along with the disapperence of Captain Haafez, Captain of the Elite Guard, utter turmoil and chaos sweeps the streets as the Sultanate no longer has organized leadership amongst it's police force and defenses! Shortly after this reported incident, Grand Vizier Malik al-Zahhak rises to his podium outside the fortress balcony to meet the general public in attempt to lull his people from their panic.
"My good people of the Exalted Yesadi Sultanate! Please do not frighten yourselves with the events that have conspired. You currently remain without the security of your beloved Amir of State and Captain of the Elite Guard, but you have not lost your leader...". A broad yet manic smile plays across the face of the wicked elf as he waves his clawed hand outward to the people as fire burns from his hand brilliantly. "I have LIBERATED you all from the iron shackles of your elite guards and taken them under MY command! From this day forward I will be your new leader! Your salvation! Your morning star in this dark and dismal time! Yesad now belongs to my reign for as long as I see fit. The rest of the remaining Amirs will be put into fortified custody until they too will be ready to embrace me as their new Sultan. Should anyone oppose my law, they will know true horror beyond that if which this world cannot contain! With that said, I welcome you all to MY DOMAIN!" With his last word said an eruptive maniacal laughter sounds from within the balcony as the robed sorcerer retreats within the fortress to begin his reign of terror.
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Post by sylyle on Sept 5, 2013 11:09:49 GMT
~npc Alone in his office the assistant temporary Chief of the High Guards hears the announcement. Shaking his head he's done all he can from his position. Knowing what is to come next. A life of slavery under the cruel thumb of the Vizier who for a long time has been thirsting for power? Or the Honorable way out to rally some of the personal guards from the old Sultan. The same sultan who died mysteriously in his bed chambers. Still contemplating this decision there is a knock at the door. Making a sigh standing drawing his scimitar, it appears the circumstances have the choice made for him. "Enter... If you dare." The door cracks open just a hair. Unable to see who is on the other side a soft whha sound and the tingle of something tiny and sharp hit him in the neck. "Coward!" He yells and makes two steps toward the door. Two last defiant steps to defend the honor of the Sultanate, for Yesadi, for himself.
The men work quickly attaching rope around his neck and attaching the other end to the very heavy large solid desk in the office. One of them chides to the paralyzed acting chief. "There's a /new/ Sultan in town." Another pipes in, "You always did say that paperwork will be the death of you." They all laugh merrily as they throw the acting High Guard Captain out off his balcony a good 30 feet in the air.
Lucky for him the sudden stop broke his neck... But there he swings for all to see. A testament of what is to come. Nothing says I'm in charge than hanging the current Captain of the High Guards publicly. Nobody will dare challenge the new Sultan ex-Vizier Malik Al-Zahhak!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2013 15:42:39 GMT
News of Grand Vizier Malik Al-Zahhak's acquisition of the throne and the death of the Amir of State spreaded like fire. Amir Alim quickly stopped his weekly hunting expedition and hasted towards Yesad with a grin on his face. For his long time rival and enemy the amir of state has fallen. His ways were way to peaceful and passive for a growing nation and he needed to be dispatched. Judging by his daring actions Alim knew that this new Sultan would have the courage and fortitude to take any risk necessary to make this nation even greater. With intentions of greeting Sultan Malik Al-Zahhak with open arms, Amir Alim rides to the capitol.
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Del
Heraldry of Nise
Listening to the floating lady in the sky...
Posts: 128
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Post by Del on Sept 5, 2013 16:40:14 GMT
One of Del's set of eyes scurries around the city jumping roof to roof and through dark allies and between boxes and crates. He makes his way as quickly as his small legs can carry him to the outbound raven attendant. He is sure that after hearing of the news of a overthrow that word must be sent to his master while he is away on a desert land expedition.
The child not much smaller than Del himself gives the Raven attendant a wooden token with a odd symbol on it. The attendant nods and hands the boy a scrap of paper and an ink pen.
The child shakes his head and shrugs at the two items.
"cant write... cant read..."
The attendant nods with a bit of pity...before grabbing the pen and paper himself.
"It needs to go out to the desert... to the lil man in black... Just tell him a new boss has sat in the big chair... new boss must have wanted to upgrade to the next model."
The attendant sighs as he writes the message and shoos the little child away as he send the raven off.
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Qi'sa al-Quatir
Yesadi
The fires of rebellion are meant to be stamped out.
Posts: 52
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Post by Qi'sa al-Quatir on Sept 5, 2013 20:33:56 GMT
A small troop crested over the hillside, the last as they drew in on Yesad from the east. They weren't yet tiring, as it was still early in the afternoon, but the ease of a downhill slope is welcome on any soldier's feet. Despite this comfort, a hot wind whipped through the air, keeping discomfort lingering about them. That discomfort would come to a head when they finally reached the outer walls. A contingent of Elite Guard stood, barring passage to the city.
"I'm afraid the Amir is to come with us and be placed under fortified custody." The lead of them said in a plain, droning tone.
Qi'sa could already feel her blood turning hot as she stepped forward. "Under who's authority?"
Dull eyes looked back at her in opposition, a sneer on the Elite Guard's face. "The new Sultan, Malik al-Zahhak. You'll need to surrender yourself and come with us."
Taking another step forward, the Amir quickly grabbed several glass vials from her bandolier, before flying into a fit of anger.
"There is not yet a new Sultan. The Emirate authority is the only way for a sultan to be declared, I was not consulted. I will not surrender myself- least of all to mutineers."
The sneer on the guard's face turned to a snide grin as the two men at his sides drew swords, pointing them threateningly at the Amir. "We can always just take you by force instead..."
Qi'sa's grip on the glass containers tightened within her fist, fine cracks spiderwebbing in the outer surface. Liquid catalysts began to slowly drip down the surface, and when opposing chemicals touched one another, it began to create a great heat, even from these single drops. Holding her alchemical bomb firmly, the Amir's brassy eyes narrowed at the lead guardsman. "You mean that you can try to..."
Before she could make the dire move though, there was a clattering around her. On each side of her arose a line of shields, between them a row of spears pointed out threateningly at the Elite Guardemen. Further over that, the row of men had longspears pointed over the tops ot the shields from the front ranks. The entire military troops stood, an imposing wall surrounding the Amir. The captain of the unit stood directly at Qi'sa's side, his shield and spear raised and his sight not leaving the lead guardsmen as he spoke up.
"Amir ul-Umara, it seems the city's not safe. We remain honor bound to our duties, even in the face of these usurpers. Go, my liege. We will cover your safe retreat."
A fire of rage licked at her mind, but the Amir knew the captain was right. Even if her troop could overtake these gate guards, they wouldn't be able to take the entire city back from the traitors. She slowly backed through the back of the group, each rank slowly inching backwards, their weapons still poised to threaten the guardsmen if they followed. The Amir turned, facing northward, a wall of shield and spears at her back. She had seen the deployment schedule issued out earlier; there were more forces- some of the stronger units deployed- in the Asahara Desert to the north. If it was men she needed to fell these mutineers, it was men she would go and get...
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Post by Vizier Malik Al-Zahhak on Sept 6, 2013 1:03:56 GMT
A few days after the new Sultan's hostel takeover of the lawless city state of Yesad, time was not wasted in the least for immediate oppositions to make themselves known. Amongst the chaotic rabble, many citizens boldly marched into the ex-Vizier's courtyard despite the insistence of the city guard who remained under the new Sultan's reign. Words such as 'VILLAIN!' and 'TYRANT!' roared from the angry mob's voices demanding presence with al-Zahhak in person. Before the guards could act the Vizier made himself known to the angry citizens who called to him. Many complaints thundered, demanding the Vizier cease the madness that was his iron grip upon the Yesadi people considering his new reign to be nothing short of an enslavement and mutiny of the rightful seat of the coming Sultan. Wickedly, the Vizier only smiled as he spoke his next decree to the angry public.
"It has come to my attention that my new position has angered a good few of my delightful people of Yesad, am I mistaken? Well, to each is own I shall say now, you are all entitled to your most hated and angered opinions under my monarchy. However, within your ranks it seems most of you have the unbridled intention that because you do not agree with my reign you seek to... overthrow me?"
Silence wrecked the mob for a moments time after the Vizier asked this question as most of them knew a wrong word could easily be a crossbow bolt to the heart from the surrounding guards that positioned themselves within the fortress walls. That is, until one brave soul stepped forward from this rabble to voice their opinion.
"We don't side ourselves with vipers in our midst! You are not our leader Vizier! You are nothing more than a usurper and therefore should be granted nothing short than your head on a pike! We are in our rights of this constitutional monarchy to voice against tyrants like you!"
From this the crowds moral seemed to lift from this statement of confidence as the person gathered them in their uplifting words. This made the Vizier smile even more broadly than before hearing this absolution gather from such a large group of people. A gentle clap heard from his being as he bowed his head to the crowd.
"A sound argument good citizens. Your passion knows no bounds, and thus, you will all be rewarded for your loyalty... to your old ways. Guards? Seize them, seize them all and bind their hands. We're going to make sure their voice is heard to the good people of Yesad."
A few hours pass after that thunderous opposition of significant townsfolk until action begins to stir once again, this time the Vizier escorted by his cacophony of remaining elite guards who also lead the once free mob now bound by dozens of chains and rope upon the city square. Eventually they are all lead into the central fountain of the city where the common folk made their crossings into several markets within the city walls. Standing next to the Vizier however was a hooded man baring the insignia of a clerical god, and in his hands remained a deathly blade most recognize to be the final tool one sees upon crossing into the next life. People murmured and gasped as they saw all the bound people lined up around the fountain in a grand circle with their backs to the shallow pool. The Vizier then put a hand on the scythed and hooded man to give him an affirmed nod as the man stood strait in front of the nearest man in custody. Malik however turned his gaze back to the crowd who covered their mouths in horror as they divined what exactly was to happen to their loved ones who simply wished to have their voices heard by their new overlord.
"My good people of Yesad. It appears that some of you within our glorious kingdom do not see my reign to be of the best interest to any of you or this realm. Well, knowing this quite fully, I shall share with you all a proverb the Zahhaki Elves passed quite broadly upon each generation. 'To embrace change, is to embrace new life even in it's cruelest of forms. Failure to do so, succumb to the mire of entropy and death... along with all traitors.'"
With the last word said the entire crowd gasps broadly as they see the clerical headsmen make a swift slice across the jugular of the nearest man forcing him to bleed out within seconds and fall backward into the fountain pool with a hard splash. A shriek of terror from the crowd emitted as they saw the execution take place in such a brutal and gruesome manner, most likely sourcing from either a child or wife of the man that was just slaughtered... subsequently the very man who spoke out for his people in the mob. With this the malicious vizier looked back at the crowd in a manic and wicked smile baring his teeth quite visibly.
"...Now that is settled. Would anyone else like to oppose my reign? Would anyone ELSE like to brand themselves, a TRAITOR!?"
The Vizier hissed out in a fairly animistic manner to the people, many of them shocked upon the eerie sound of his tone. Terrified many of them shook their heads and a few 'no's also rang in the crowd in their timid natures. This brought joy back into his jaw as he grinned softly yet again. Waving around to nod once again to his headsman.
"Very well, you may proceed... oh, and ungag them too if you would headsman."
Gleefully the scythed man grinned as he did what he was told while the vizier walked away from the now constant scream after scream of each neck slit open and body splash into the fountain pool. While the vizier walked away from the sounds of women and children crying and pleading the vizier to stop this the elf merely counted as he heard each body fall into the now ebony red waters.
"...95, 96, 97, 98, 99..."
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Post by sylyle on Sept 7, 2013 0:12:19 GMT
~NPC~ Late at night a servant, young and beautiful, sneaks out of the castle. Seemingly unnoticed she makes her way down the quiet streets. Taking the long way around to her destination to try to make sure she is not followed, never once looking up.
She comes to a small shop and knocks three times twice. The door unbolts and she hurries inside. Looking pale from fright she looks to the man. I have information the other heads of tribes are being arrested. Some are killed. Her poor grammar a reinforcement to her age and upbringing. "Fear not I will send a message post haste." Scribbling down some very small print he sets it in a tiny scroll case. Seals it with wax and pulls a bird cage out from under the bed. Kissing the top of the head of the bird he whispers to it lovingly 'find 1' Very trained he should home in on the cage he begged his cousin, being sent out of the city on exploration, to take. Letting the bird go and it flies out of the upper window.
A pounding on the door makes the two look to one another in shock and fear drips all over her face. "How old are you?" he whispers "Old enough." she answers seemingly to get the message and quickly strips throwing her cloths around the room. Stripping off his night robe and wrapping it around his waist he answers the door cracking it only slightly. "Yes?"
"Night watch." Says somebody in armor blazoned with the crest of the Vizier. "Umm, I'm busy and I think she charges extra for others watching." The dry humor unnoticed as the guards kick in the door and proceed to kill the two inside. Spitting on them the leader looks to his men. "Toss the place quietly, make it look like burglary." In the process they miss the small cage under the bed intent only on what is visible.
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Post by Grimm Scythe on Sept 7, 2013 1:03:47 GMT
~Executioner~ The Sun has set, the night wind blows through Grimm's room. Sitting on a stool at the base of his bed he holds his scythe tight. He's finished cleaning the blood out of the small notches in the blade.
Today had gone well. No mistakes. No misses. A small interruption by a crying widow but she was subdued by the guards. I fear for her. Living in this world without the support of her loved one. But he was sentenced to death and that's what Iaozrael put me on this world to deliver, regardless of the circumstances.
A knock on the door, Grimm raises to answer, swinging it open to reveal a small serving girl, holding a package wrapped in parchment. "Your robes...sir," the serving girl stutters, "as you ordered." "Thank you," Grimm takes the package from the servant, "you are dismissed." The servant curtsies and darts away to the tailor. Grimm takes the package and unwraps it. Pulling it out of the wrapping Grimm holds his new robes and hood, commissioned for his new role. "These shall do. I have to look...presentable." Grimm spits out the words, it disgusts him the pretentiousness of the Vizer. "Tommorow I have to spend my time sharpening my blade in public and standing close to the Vizer as he sentences people. But eh, I get paid. And Iaozrael takes more souls."
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Post by Vizier Malik Al-Zahhak on Sept 7, 2013 16:13:08 GMT
Morning daybreak arrives quite mournfully over the blooded streets of Yesad as sounds of multiple yells and grunts are heard from within the keep walls of the Vizier's fortress. These are heard quite consistently throughout the keep, through the throne room of the fortress stands the Vizier over what seems to be the burned and battered Amir of Resources Muhammud Sunseeker VI. From what could be seen thus far, the Amir was tied to a foot stool bound by hands and feet while his head executioner stood a slight distance away in one side of the room while the Amir of Coin stood on the other side. More painful sounds rang through the keep walls as the Vizier held Sunseeker's neck with one hand as his other clawed hand producing an all too luminescent flame continue to singe and burn the man's back in a torturous manner, branding him constantly with each claw stab to his spine.
"AAAGH! PLEASE! STOP THIS! I told you already! I don't KNOW where she is! I've never conspired with her I PROMISE!!" the man blurted out in utter searing pain with streams of tears running down his elven eyes. Hearing this the Vizier stopped his torture for the time being before circling around him to eye down at the Amir with his still fiery hand burning with anger.
"I know you have sent runners and messangers within the city Sunseeker... You know where the Amir of War and Defense is! If you refuse to tell me, by the word of the great dragon Tiamat I will RIP out your tongue and send you to the fires of damnation in a most FITTING MANNER!!" the Vizier barks out in rage as he snatches with his clawed searing hand the Amir's tongue tip while his eyes water more intently through the excruciating feel of the immolation against his taste buds. Amir Sunseeker wallows in terror and pain from the burn of his hand before he shakes his head rapidly.
"I DOBT KNOW!! I DOBT KNOW!!! I DOBT- GLLAHK!" was the sound Sunseeker made shortly after a swift slice of the clawed hand crossed over the base of Sunseeker's tongue slicing it completely from his mouth as he shouted harder than he ever had in his life... But not purely from being mutilated by the Vizier, rather from erupting into sudden flames in a near instant while he could not move from his binds. These screams continued on for the next 10 minutes until the corpse of the once clan leader sat hunched over in a husk of ash and soot still immolated brilliantly while the executioner and the Amir of Coin merely watched. Silence finally befell the room as the Vizier remained with his back to the other two peering out the balcony window. In doing so the rabble of the city's despair continued beneath him. Children were held hostage by soldiers in attempt to draw out other deemed traitors or messengers upon hunches that their parents would know any information of an up and coming rebellion most inevitably brewing, as well as merchants having their food tossed over by guards as they are held up to sword point for their own possible knowledge... But the Vizier did not peer down at any of this. Instead it was the sky he was looking at so intently with a face of bewilderment upon him. The sun shined brightly over the scourged land, but in the distance the presence of the moon's glory slowly but surely rose from the opposed end of the sky as well.
"M...my Lord, I recently spoke with your Marshal... He tells me they have had no word or message interceptions of Asad. Many presume he is dead due to the rampage of the monster outside our distant walls... Does- Does this bring you peace?" Amir Alim Ibn al-Ala stated with a good bit of hesitation in his voice. Malik only could stare continuously towards the sky as if he never heard a single word of the Amir, but nevertheless replied.
"Amir Alim, find the Marshal... Invite him back here as I wish to 'reward' him for his competence to his job. NOW!" the Vizier scowled at the little man before he nodded quickly and bolted for the door. Only the hooded scythed cleric remaining in the room with the Vizier as he too walked up pasted the charred corpse and spoke to Malik.
"What would you have me do, my Lord? I feel my services would be better suited helping the guard rather than waiting here to execute more helpless traitors." the hooded man stated, for as much as he enjoyed sending fresh souls to the Keeper, doing so to people who could not defend themselves or put up some sort of fight seemed... disgraceful. Even so the headsman stood at attention as the Vizier spoke.
"When I arrived here, shortly after meeting the man who inevitably comes out way, I spoke of him and the Amirs.. of a prophecy. 'As Shama and Q'ama meet in their rare embrace, so shall the Sultanate see it's destined leader to unite it's people.'" Obviously explaining this in a very hushed tone while he then turned his head to the side while his hands remained hooked behind himself. "Obviously, the prophecy was a lie... a ruse to grant false hope upon these warring clans that one would bring them peace and unity. I merely fed the pigs this and would give them but an incompetent fool sitting on their throne. Waiting for me to slice his neck open at the appropriate time." Returns his gaze up at the two celestial bodies slowly inching their way together within several hours to form a brilliant Eclipse. "What can one say about the state of truth... when your lies become reality?" He mused shakily before turning around completely to look at the headsman with deep haunting red eyes.
"You will stay here... You will protect me... For the false prophecy is soon to come."
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Post by Grimm Scythe on Sept 7, 2013 20:19:58 GMT
"False prophecy. You know this is true. You made it up yourself, how can you fear something that was made to affect the clans, not someone as...prestigious as you. Shama and Q'ama may meet, but they will soon set, as all things must and then fear will leave you."
Does he really fear for his safety because of something he made up, it's like a mother being scared of the goblins under her bed. Stupid fears for stupid people. This man is crazy. Forcing a man to guard him, when that same man could be cutting down legions of rebels as they came, instead of sitting here and waiting for them to storm the keep. Does he wish for himself and me to die. Maybe it's his faith, but I doubt he has faith in any body but his 'Beloved' Tiamat. Damn this fiend, forcing me to work under this queen of dragons. He might just test my patient, if he asks me to kill in her name.
The executioner takes his place by the throne, keeping his scythe in his right hand. The throne room shimmered in the heat, and sweat beads on Grimm's forehead. The Vizier sitting in his throne, drinking honeyed milk, the executioner drinking from his personal water-skin. Nothing tastes better than divine water. And nothing tastes better than knowing that someone's life rests in your hands. Grimm held Eclipse, his scythe, tighter.
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Qi'sa al-Quatir
Yesadi
The fires of rebellion are meant to be stamped out.
Posts: 52
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Post by Qi'sa al-Quatir on Sept 8, 2013 1:39:26 GMT
:TWO DAYS AGO:
A row of shields cordoned around a low campfire, set in the recess between sand dunes. Even in the chill of the night, solemn faces burn with emotion; confusion, frustration, anger. Amid them, brassy yellow eyes scan over the men. Qi'sa was unsure of many things after the events of the week, but the looks on their faces showed a renewed resolve.
"You are all here because you are loyal. Not just loyal to your commanders, but to Yesad. Not as a city, not even as a nation, but as an ideal. I share your zeal probably stronger than anyone else. Not a one of you will have your fortitude questioned by me. I can see it in you all. But we have seen the face of betrayal. It has crept into our home, and struck us while we sleep. But now, we will ready our response. A contingent of five of you have been selected; will head southwest from here. The Quati homelands are there, about a half-day from where we are now. You will inform them of what has happened, and tell them that your Amir requests the service of the Outriders she once commanded. Requisition horse from them, on my authority. From there, you will separate. One of you will ride to the mountains, and tell the Fihr tribe that their Emir was cut down in an act of deception. Gather what dwarves you can."
She points across the fires to a soldier, who nods sternly. Her finger trailing across, it point out another of the troops.
"You, you will ride through the desert to the Ifrani homelands. A scout from within the city has said that their Emir was seized, and he is being held under torture as we speak. Have them lend any able bodies they can provide, and any goods that their famed craftsmen can outfit our men with."
With a similarly silent nod, the soldier scknowledges. Qi'sa's hand darts quickly, pointing out the third soldier.
"You will go to the Amwaal lands. Inform them that their Emir is kidnapped away under the capture of the usurpers, get any men that would see their representative saved from these sinister clutches."
She moves her hand one more time, this time holding out two fingers at adjacent troops.
"You two will flank around the outskirts of the city, to the north and south. The deployment schedule had two groups doing expeditionary searches for the sultanate. Given that those loyal to the vizier stayed behind to secure his reign, we have to assume that these are troupes that he wanted out of the city because they are loyal to our cause. Inform them what has happened, and have them reconvene outside the city with our forces."
She looked somber, before pulling a flask from her bandolier.
"In three days, we will march forth on the city, and we will stand up to the foes of the Sultanate, who have poisoned our lands and our people with their taint. And we will see every one of them broken before us. They think that they took over Yesad. But they were wrong. They took over a city, but Yesad is within us. And when the Yesadi- the true Yesadi- rise against their tyranny..."
Throwing the flask into the campfire, the once dull flame leaps upward with a roar, a stretching pillar of fire reaching up 10 feet into the air before dying back down.
"They will find us at them mercilessly like the very fires of Shama. We won't just take back our city, we will take Yesad back to our city."
Several of the men nod in agreement, the fires reflected in their eyes mimicing their inner zeal rising.
"Now go, and run like the desert winds. For we are about to go to war..."
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