16th of Early Parch, 1st Year of the Reign of Sultan Bala the Unready[7] A. Athletics. Racing, wrestling, climbing trees and interior walls (the guards look poorly upon scaling the outer walls) were all great sport, and helped you develop your athletic ability and competitive camaraderie.
[1] B. Mischief. Sneaking, skulking, eavesdropping, and snatching (there was little to steal that you couldn't have normally, but that wasn't the point) were all thrilling larks, and helped you develop your subtlety and sense of discretion.
[1] C. Learning. Reading, researching, and even transcribing (literacy and the time to copy texts are both rare and valued commodities) were all noble pursuits, and helped you develop your mind and appreciation for knowledge.
[4] D. Galmuz the Brazen. This large, mustachioed man seduced the daughter of a Sheikh, and no doubt would have been executed had the noble thought he could get away with it. Instead he was placed here to ensure his lover's loyalty to her arranged marriage. He's jovial and competitive, always willing to arm wrestle or spar, though he partakes of women rarely enough that you suspect he's never truly forgotten about his lost love.
[4] E. Tsur the Black. This lean, brooding youth is a little older than you, and the eldest son of your uncle, the infamous Black Prince- the eldest son of the Sultan's younger brother, and thus first in line for the throne should something unfortunate befall the Sultan and his only son. The ambitious and ruthless Black Prince and his children were locked in here to avoid just such an occurrence, but Tsur has inherited some of his father's ambition and bitterness at being kept from his rightful place.
[5] F. Mor the Fat. One of your cousins, Mor is hardly what you'd call dangerous, and was likely placed in here for safekeeping. Despite being pudgy, he's a hard worker and a fantastic gardener. He's eager to get out and make something of himself, and sometimes laments being born noble for interfering with that.
[2] G. Tulura the Mother. This beautiful woman was born here, and boasts several woven lineages from various Sultans and their kin. She's wasted no time continuing this proud tradition, producing several children with another layer of highborn pedigree. She's popular for obvious reasons, but you know she resents not being wedded for her impeccable lineage and wants to make sure her children aren't similarly overlooked.
[3] H. Gia the Cackling. This ancient woman tried to poison her son-in-law to win her daughter's husband a throne, and is probably alive only because executing an old woman is neither heroic-sounding nor terribly impressive. She regrets nothing, and cackles constantly at trying to murder a Sheikh's son and "getting away with it." She's quite knowledgeable about a variety of subjects, and remarkably pleasant and doting when you're not in the way of her political ambitions.
[7] I. Preening. You spent a great deal of time ensuring your appearance was impeccable, and consider yourself more artistic and regal as a result.
[1] J. Women. You enjoyed yourself quite a bit with the fairer sex, and consider yourself more diplomatic and alluring as a result.
[7] K. Brawling. You got into more than a few less than friendly fistfights, and consider yourself tougher and more intimidating as a result.
[1] L. Napping. You dozed off in luxurious comfort quite a bit, and consider yourself more relaxed and serene as a result.
[2] M. Reading. You indulged readily in ancient legends and fantastic tales, and consider yourself more imaginative and cultured as a result.
[7] N. Collecting. You hoarded and sought out as many valuables and curiosities as you could find in confinement, and consider yourself more perceptive and knowledgeable as a result.
[2] O. Eating. You sampled the many fine cuisines available to you frequently and with relish, and consider yourself more refined and gregarious as a result.
You consider yourself for a moment.
You are fairly
athletic, which should give you some familiarity with
physical endeavors and
good-natured competition. You hear Sultans have to be fearless in battle and inspire their soldiers and generals, so maybe you'll have an edge (or less of a disadvantage) there.
You were good friends with a pudgy cousin named
Mor, giving you a bit of insight into
hard work and
nurturing things. You hear Sultans have to deal with lazy flatterers all the time, so maybe knowing one earnest worker will let you recognize others.
You were also good friends with two people who didn't like each other much:
Galmuz the Brazen and
Tsur the Black. The two were as different as different could be; Galmuz was gigantic and muscular, Tsur lean and lithe. Galmuz laughed and joked, Tsur brooded and sneered. Galmuz wanted for little, Tsur wanted everything. Watching and contrasting your good friends has given you further
insight into conflict, which you understand Sultans must deal with on a constant basis.
You indulged heavily in the fine arts of
preening, brawling, and collecting, making you more
artistic, tough, and perceptive. It also gives others the sense that you are
regal, intimidating, and knowledgeable. You're not sure how those traits and perceptions will play out, but it's something to keep in mind.
You jump slightly in your seat as trumpets blare. The first of the Sheikhs- you assume- strides in promptly, making his way down the lush red carpet to your throne. Several heralds shout out his name and rank in unison as he enters:
"Sheikh Harru of House Vigilant, Sheikh of Wisdom!"The man before you is... well, old. He doesn't look especially imposing, wearing fancy but not extravagant teal robes adorned with polished brass, white of hair and beard, with blue eyes and a complexion that speaks of little time spent outside. He offers you a glittering white stone on a cord, which you take to stare at.
"Great Sultan, your servant stands ready to aid you. On hearing of your noble sire's demise, I consulted the bones, and they spoke of great evil in the realm. This talisman should protect you from evil, and know that should you require aid, I stand ready to assist you. No matter what form it might take," he finishes, looking directly at the Vizier. You do likewise in a panic, but he just laughs like a torturer whose prey has said something amusing.
"Well said, well said! It's as I always say, Your Majesty: We must ever be vigilant against evil! Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"You nod frantically and mumble something about thanks to the old man, hoping to avoid getting either of you killed. He stares at your Vizier for another long few seconds before departing, taking up a position to one side of the path leading to you.
"Sheikh Herrim of House Crownhawk, Sheikh of Water!"The man who swaggers in is... well,
ostentatious would be one way to describe it. He's rather well-fed, to put it politely, of moderate, perhaps even tall build, but not athletic in the slightest. His attire is of the most vibrant crimson and purple silks you've ever seen, adorned with enough real gold to overwhelm either color. His fingers are heavy with massive gemstones clinging to bands of precious metal, and his chest is laden with shimmering chains and plates. His mustache is probably the only part of him not covered in wealth, and even that is arched magnificently away from his face in a way that must require some manner of care.
The object he hands you with a shallow bow is as golden and jewel-encrusted as he is, apparently a rather large dagger or rather short sword. A quick check confirms it's not well sharpened, balanced, or shaped; a decorative or ceremonial item first and foremost.
"A thousand blessings upon you and your House, Great Sultan! May this dagger serve as proof of your office and magnificence of your lineage! May all who see it know that they gaze upon a true Sultan! Your humble servant stands ready to serve you in any manner you desire."Incidentally...
you are a Crownhawk, which adds some odd context to him blessing your House. You're unsure how exactly this man is related to you; presumably a somewhat distant connection, since you know of the Sultan's- the old Sultan's immediate family fairly well.
You nod and return his blessing, which you're not sure is quite right but he's sort of family, right? Either way, he nods in satisfaction and takes his place opposite Sheikh Harru.
"Sheikh Tuana of House Malai, Sheikh of Cunning!"The man who strides through the doorway looks...
otherworldly. Vibrant, shimmering rainbows of color move hypnotically over his sculpted frame, while a grandiose wall of feathers sways elegantly behind him. You've never seen anything so beautiful or ostentatious, distant cousin included.
"Blessings of Malai upon you! Your humble servant stands ever ready to interpret the will of the gods, Great Sultan, and to ease your troubles should you require respite. I grant you this humble pleasure slave to do with as you will."The most beautiful girl you've ever seen appears seemingly out of nowhere, blindfolded and crawling gracefully but suggestively forward on all fours. She must have been hiding behind the man, because there's no way anyone could miss her otherwise; she bears the same otherworldly and alluring silks as her master, shimmering and shifting in a way that can't be natural. You know House Malai are devoted to- and claim descent from- the Water-God Malai, patron of fertility and pleasure. Could the tales of otherworldly servants gifted by their patron be true?
You mutter something related to Sultandom, you're pretty sure, as you watch her take a place beside your throne, smiling coyly at you despite (presumably) being unable to see you properly.
"Sheikh Tormal of House Highstar, Sheikh of Duty!"With a start, you realize the peacock Sheikh has already taken his place and the next one has entered. Or at least... you assume that's him? He looks even less Sheikh-like than the first one- even older and even plainer. His robe isn't even silk, and a dull blue that's not unpleasant, but most certainly wouldn't be considered fancy outside a peasant's ball. Maybe not even then. He further bears a simple cord about his waist, passing up an obvious opportunity for a fancy-yet-practical belt.
On closer inspection, though... the man seems oddly alert. His eyes are an almost incandescent teal, and despite the obvious signs of aging moves with a plodding but confident grace. He hands you a white flute, which on closer inspection looks like it might be made of wyrmbone. The terrifying bonewyrms dive through sand as a fish through water, and are regarded as among the most glorious prey a hero can hunt. You don't mean to jump to conclusions- it could be regular bone or even ceramic- but it bears the uncommon weight, glossy texture, and grey-white coloration you've heard of wyrmbone. If so, you wonder if any of the stories you've heard of wyrmbone's mystical properties could be true as well.
"O Wise Sultan, I bow before your magnificence. Take this offering that it may grant you diligence and joy. I look forward to many years of service, O Great One."You give the man a sincere thanks for the intriguing gift, and he shuffles off to take his position near the others.
"Sheikh Akar of House Cruelhook, Sheikh of Stone!"The man who appears next swaggers in as though he'd just won a bet. He looks young- relative to the other Sheikhs, at least- and by his crooked grin is likely arrogant. By the power and grace of his movements, it's probably largely warranted. Notably, he carries a golden hooked spear like they use to hunt bonewyrms in the stories, but casually and with great familiarity. It's this weapon he offers to you as a gift, and on taking it you get the sense that it's a real weapon, overgilded but nonetheless intended for war.
"I greet you, Great Sultan! Rest easy knowing that Sheikh Akar the Cruelhook stands watch over your borders! May you strike down evil in all its forms with this mighty weapon in your hands!"Your eyes unintentionally dart to the Vizier when the Sheikh mentions evil, and he sneers at you in irritation. They snap back to the Sheikh, whom you thank in what you hope is a suitably grave tone for the present of a warrior's spear.
"Sheikh Tor of House Proudshield, Sheikh of Honor!"The last Sheikh marches forward with a warrior's bearing, a lean war-hound puppy in perfect lockstep. His hair is greying but still streaked with black, and his broad shoulders support obvious muscle. His attire is gilded but functional bronze armor, probably light for actual battlefield protection, but loudly proclaiming his profession to all. A handful of gaudy but unobtrusive adornments seem to send a message of wealth and status without interfering with his movements. When he reaches your throne, he snaps a finger, and the puppy dutifully bounds over to you.
"Great Sultan, House Proudshield stands ready to defend your people against all comers. Long live the Sultan!"You thank him for his loyalty, genuinely impressed by... well, the fact that you're a Sultan, apparently. If a soldier-vassal saluting you doesn't make you the Sultan, not much does.
With the initial gifts given, the Sheikhs salute you in unison and the Vizier motions for you to make your... speech. You panic a little, mumble something about thanks, and hope that's good enough.
No one says anything to the contrary, so the Sheikhs disperse and the Vizier leans in to... "advise" you.
"An adequate showing, O Great Sultan," he says, words dripping with sarcasm and smile laden with malice.
"However, as your Most Trusted Vizier, I feel compelled to offer advice in these matters. You do value my wise counsel, do you not?"You're pretty sure the alternative is being knifed in a dark alley, so you vigorously nod. Fealty or no, you doubt he'd let you get this far if he thought you could disobey him and live to tell about it.
"Wonderful! Then take heed, Your Majesty- politics are dangerous. You must build alliances, placate rivals, arrange marriages..."He trails off, and you feel compelled to sneak a glance at your new pleasure slave.
"Oh yes," he continues, pacing back and forth, stroking his chin.
"Many Sultans make poor decisions at the expense of the realm, and must suffer the consequences thereof. Letting anger get the better of them, siding with friends over justice, letting themselves be seduced by ambitious women..."You don't think this lecture is purely hypothetical.
"Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying the fruits of your station, Your Majesty," he continues, tone shifting to... well, fake friendly, but more upbeat than previously.
"Many Sultans keep truly extraordinary numbers of loyal mistresses to no ill effect. It's only when they begin whispering in their liege's ears, insisting they know better than he, corrupting his pure intentions with vile ambition. Oh yes, yes, the stories I could tell you of great Sultans brought low by the charms of treacherous women..."You meekly mumble something about being careful. He smiles unpleasantly, but you detect actual mirth in there.
"Wonderful! Now then, there will be a time of... preoccupation. The feast will be in several hours. You will not be required until then."With that, the
real most powerful man in the world strides off.
You're told the feast is to be a grand affair, where you'll be expected to interact more intimately with the Sheikhs. That means a lot of talking, where your flaws, such as complete lack of knowledge about anything, are likely to become more readily apparent. You wonder if you should attempt to learn what you can in the interim, or just relax and gather your nerves.
(Pick Any Two)
A. Study the Sheikhs. The palace has a lot of useless-looking courtiers who probably know more about these people than you do. Any of them would probably leap at the chance to gossip about the Sheikhs directly to the Sultan.
B. Study the Sheikhdoms. You've often heard it said that the land is more nuanced than its ruler. There's no doubt sneaks and snoops in every corner who know more about the advantages and troubles of a given domain than you could get from hearing about its current lord.
C. Study the Realm. There's a gaggle of old men who keep trying to bring you reports of some kind, but are routinely intercepted or shooed off by the Vizier. They'd probably be happy to instruct you on the overall status of your new realm.
D. Study Art. You've spent your entire life in a cage, and are hopelessly out of touch with current fashions. Admiring the local decor might give you a finer appreciation for what the nobility looks for in their peers.
E. Study War. You hear Sultans have to fight many battles, but obviously the Vizier didn't bother to inform you of the state of "your" troops. No doubt some of the guards would be willing to gossip on the state of your armies and the threats facing them.
F. Study Etiquette. You're unaccustomed to dealing with (ruling, landed) nobles, and thus don't know what to look for in your vassals' behavior. Studying and receiving instruction from some of your fancier and more useless courtiers might give you a better sense of how to read nobles in the wild.
G. Examine The Charm. Sheikh Harru of House Vigilant, the old man who warned you against evil, gave you a sparkling pendant, claiming it would keep you safe from evil. You could try to ask somebody about it, see if it might really keep you safe.
H. Examine The Dagger. Sheikh Herrim of House Crownhawk, the gaudy overweight man who blessed your/his house, gave you a heavily bejeweled dagger. You could play with it a bit, learning how to wear it gracefully as a badge of station.
I. Examine The Slave. Sheikh Tuana of House Malai, the fantastically beautiful man who offered the wisdom of the gods, gave you a pleasure slave. You could spend some time with her, getting to know her better or just... relaxing a bit.
J. Examine The Flute. Sheikh Tormal of House Highstar, the ancient man who prayed for many years of service, gave you a bone flute. You could spend some time examining it, trying to figure out if it's really wyrmbone and whether you can play it well enough to avoid embarrassing yourself.
K. Examine The Spear. Sheikh Akar of House Cruelhook, the arrogant man who promised to guard your borders, gave you a gilded spear. You could spend some time practicing with it, hoping to get a feel for the exotic weapon.
L. Examine The Hound. Sheikh Tor of House Proudshield, the strong man who wished you long life, gave you a puppy. You could spend some time playing with it, getting to know it better and seeing how well trained it already is.
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Topic: [SG] The Hollow Throne [16th of Early Parch, Afternoon] (Read 2992 times)