Post by Canadian Vet on Feb 25, 2015 10:34:39 GMT -5
Player: Canuck/Canadian Vet
Best Contact Method(s): cbox, PM, Gchat
Have you read the General Rules?: Mayhaps
Are you adopting a character from the Open for Claims List?: sorta
If so, have you discussed the required character elements with the contact person?: Helped create them
Have you contacted the other players in the House/family to discuss relationships? had a hand in making them
Character Name: Khalifah Qasim ibn Fahlad ibn Rashid al-Khalid al-Rohari
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Birthdate: December 1388
City / Region: Rohari
House [ Birth, Marriage if applicable ]: al-Khalid
Played by: Pedro Pascal
Appearance:
Qasim is a prime example of the Sand Men. Standing tall, a finger's width below six feet, and lean, his frame is corded with the lean and taut muscles that characterize the desert warriors.
Despite still in his prime, the stresses of his early accession to the seat of the Caliph and the stresses of his position has marked his face as surely as the sand-laden desert winds carve all they encounter and bear lines of laughter and worry alike. His hair and beard, carefully trimmed as is the custom of the Rohari of the cities, is starting to show the first strands of grey and his broad forehead, in recent years, has gotten wider from his hairline starting to recede.
Despite being Caliph, he eschews most trappings of his rank and instead settles on clothes that are well-made and utilitsrian in nature. Unless it is for occasions of the highest importance, his favoured attire is a pair of loose trousers, a long cotton shirt which is then topped by a long robe that is cinched about his waist by a simple, broad leather belt and his favoured footwear, if any, is either simple sandals or a pair of well-worn boots.
However, this lack of ostentatiousness does not detract from his noble bearing and features and instead only seem to accentuate his ancestry as a man of the desert. As such, even barefoot and without even a robe at hand, his presence is one that speaks of command and confidence. Also, as of to complement this, he rarely raises his voice at all, typically speaking barely above a whisper, his tone akin to the abrasion of a stone against a rough blade.
Personality:
The Caliph can, by most, be summed up as being calm, thoughtful and deliberate. However, beyond his cool exterior burn deep passions. He is a man of the desert and has been known to make regular forays across the sands himself either for pilgrimage, answering a call from one of his nobles or simply to raid into the lands adjoining the arbitrary line between Rohari and Archades. But he is also one who seeks to unify and settle down his people so they may all benefit from peaceful contacts with their neighbours. As such, he often tames his passions for the sake of the future his grandfather started.
Despite his apparent calm and patience, he is not a man whose resolve is to be tested. Once he has drawn a line, it is utterly inflexible and his whispered word is law. However, should he raise his voice, even to that of most people's conversation, one knows he had reached a point where heeding his words is most recommended. But rarely does he shout or yell and when he does, the rarity of this act is often enough to reassert his dominance.
He takes his responsibilities seriously and has been known to do himself, or at least attend things typically left to servants. The few times he had to deliver on his warnings regarding hostages, he attended the shearing of daughters and he swung the blade that removed the hands of sons and personally bound and cauterized the wound before calling for the surgeons. The one time he had to go to the extreme of these measures, he ensured his hostages would have a swift and painless death and he personally led the army that delivered their remains in all honour.
Despite his hard lines and unforgiving policies, he is not a tyrant or a cruel man. He rules with a tight fist and allows much of the traditional feuding and raising and warring between tribes as to respect their heritage, stepping in only when things get out of hand. He has also been known to make reparations to Archadean border lords who suffered over zealous depredations by raiders and seeks to maintain a degree of peace across the border.
He is a very devout man and performs all of the rites and prayers required to the Two. Also, he is a firm adherent to the Roharwali code and lets it guide a great many of his decisions, only deviating when no other viable options exist. As such, he had proven acceptable to the more conservative elements of his people while still moving his agenda forward.
To say he loves his children is an understatement. He utterly adores them, especially his youngest daughters who are the light of his serious life. Of his sons and eldest daughter, he expects much and his affection for them is somewhat more subdued yet undeniable.
Eminently practical, he utilizes his brothers as his honoured and esteemed counselors and agents, roles they share with his sons as they too are being taught what is involved with ruling and he sincerely hopes he will be able to impart enough of these lessons on them they will be fit to rule when the time comes.
Specific Skills or Abilities:
At his very core, Qasim is Rohari as such he was well-schooled in the sciences of arms as is a sacred duty amongst all Sand Men. As one meant to become Caliph, his training was exacting, and still ongoing as much of the authority of his position depends on his ability to hold it. With scimitar, spear or the horn and sinew bow of the true desert warriors, he excels. Also, he is an excellent rider of horse and camel alike and maintains extensive stables of fine examples of both animals.
He is also a shrewd statesman and a consummate diplomat and it is more through these skills than force of arms that he has secured his position as Caliph. As such, he is also a very strong leader who knows precisely where and when he should delegate and to whom, sometimes to the offence of better-born candidates for a given task, and where he should handle things personally in order to achieve the desired end-result. It goes without saying he is a master planner and strategist and often his plans are far-reaching and feature many a complex scheme that might seem to be a discreet goal.
It goes without saying that games of strategy are one of his strong suits.
As befits a man of his station, he also dabbles in other disciplines with varying degrees of success. As a poet, he is deemed passable at best, atrocious at the worst. However, he is a precise calligrapher and his works as a painter and makers of mosaics are considered to be quite pleasing.
Background:
From birth, Qasim was destined to be a Caliph. As such, no effort or expense in his education and upbringing were spared. However, his youth was not all tutors and instructors and the like. Much of his learning he did at the side of his father and uncles, learning firsthand what was involved in being the Caliph of the Rohari. Granted, many times he was used as little more than a scribe for the proceedings, or a silent observer, but he learned well and before long he was entrusted with tasks of his own as his father's will and emissary.
Another hallmark of his upbringing was how he was often assigned to perform menial tasks or join men of lesser births in their trades, even to the point of living with them, sharing their food and drink and be effectively stripped of his rank and its attendant honours and privileges. The reasoning behind it was that he would know the life of his people and therefore be better able to lead them in the future.
In the end, it all served him well as he became familiar with the way of life of his entire people and not only the privileged castes.
At the age of fifteen now a man in the eyes of the law and the gods, he began to be seriously utilized as his father's agent and more responsibilities were being passed on to him. That is until it became apparent Caliph Fahlad was ill and a wasting disease was slowly killing him from the inside out.
As such, at the age of sixteen, Qasim became the ruler of Rohari in all but name, reigning in his father's stead. The two years until Fahlad's death in his sleep were harrowing for the young man and he found himself beset from all sides. However, through his wits, determination and his thorough education he managed to pull through and fully assert himself as al-Khalifah.
It was during that period of his life that, at the age of seventeen, he was married to secure a strong ally. Perhaps it was a political wedding, but from pure practicality rose a deep love and what joy he found at being a husband was only eclipsed by his joy at being a father.
However, his joy was not to be endless for, when his youngest daughter Amirah was but two years of age, his wife took a bad fall and struck her head. The impact did not kill her outright, but she dropped dead a week later. It has always bothered the Caliph, for he knew his bride was a masterful dancer and as sure-footed as a cat. While it was considered an accident, part of him always wonders if it was murder most foul.
As Caliph, his shrewd mind and decisive nature were quick to secure his position, and ever since he instituted his system and code of hostageship, he managed to pacify his Sheikhs and Emirs and since, barring a few misguided attempts to test his resolve or seriousness, he was surrounded by scions of noble houses whom he included into his own household to be treated as lesser princes and princesses, to the point of granting a few of them a degree of autonomy and even political power as he earned their trust and loyalty, and they earned his.
Over two decades, Qasim did much to settle his people down and make entreaties with Archades, ever hopeful to arrange for permanent and fruitful relations with his neighbours, before they would grow strong and united enough themselves to do what the strong ever did to the weak and subjugate them and as such seeks to treat with their King as an equal and not a mere tribal leader.
Writing Sample:
So far, Rafael was tempted to say things were looking good. After all, he was not turned away at the gate thanks to his uninvited visit and he was not immediately treated to a solitary locked room or asked to relinquish the longsword and rondel dagger at his waist.
He knew his men would not reveal anything. Both men at arms were part of the ducal bodyguard and the one manservant was a trusted member of his staff back in Talencia. And all knew how to hold their tongues so he was not worried about any secrets spilling out when they would be conversing with Gilboa's soldiery and staff. Oh yes, he knew these games were played. They would be watched, and some would engage them in conversation if only to glean information as to the nature of their visit.
The warlike Sandoval had very carefully calculated his approach, thinking of it as he would the preamble to a battle. Yes, he did introduce himself as Nacimiento's heir and there could be no way they would not know he was Joaquin's second son. If anything, he expected it would pique some curiosity and get him deeper into the door. Not to mention the deceptive manner of their travel and their entry into the city. That alone would guarantee him an audience with the Marquess. And meeting Zorion Ibarra was the sole crucial point of this visit.
Rafe was close to sitting down in the seat be was being guided to by a servant when another armed person arrived. Men at arms, he expected. After all, the enmity between the Houses Sandoval and Ibarra was well-known, and so was his reputation as one of the best fighters in Archades. So of course he would be watched closely. But when this form spoke, it was a woman! Oh yes, Therese Ibarra, the lady knight. Part of this woman's existence pissed him off. He was knighted by his father for his service to Nacimiento but the Crown had refused to recognize his elevation, effectively preventing his rise above being a man-at-arms.
And he could tell how she was itching to reach for her weapons. And he couldn't blame her. However, he inclined his head to her with all courtesy. "Dame Therese. You are known well outside the borders of Estersea. It is an honour to meet you."
And then, he performed one more gesture of good will and he expertly undid the belt from which his sword hung and he handed the plain and utilitarian weapon to another attendant. So there he was, unarmoured and now devoid of the longsword with which he was an undisputed master.
This was a battlefield all right and he had to create his opportunities.
Best Contact Method(s): cbox, PM, Gchat
Have you read the General Rules?: Mayhaps
Are you adopting a character from the Open for Claims List?: sorta
If so, have you discussed the required character elements with the contact person?: Helped create them
Have you contacted the other players in the House/family to discuss relationships? had a hand in making them
Character Name: Khalifah Qasim ibn Fahlad ibn Rashid al-Khalid al-Rohari
Age: 38
Gender: Male
Birthdate: December 1388
City / Region: Rohari
House [ Birth, Marriage if applicable ]: al-Khalid
Played by: Pedro Pascal
Appearance:
Qasim is a prime example of the Sand Men. Standing tall, a finger's width below six feet, and lean, his frame is corded with the lean and taut muscles that characterize the desert warriors.
Despite still in his prime, the stresses of his early accession to the seat of the Caliph and the stresses of his position has marked his face as surely as the sand-laden desert winds carve all they encounter and bear lines of laughter and worry alike. His hair and beard, carefully trimmed as is the custom of the Rohari of the cities, is starting to show the first strands of grey and his broad forehead, in recent years, has gotten wider from his hairline starting to recede.
Despite being Caliph, he eschews most trappings of his rank and instead settles on clothes that are well-made and utilitsrian in nature. Unless it is for occasions of the highest importance, his favoured attire is a pair of loose trousers, a long cotton shirt which is then topped by a long robe that is cinched about his waist by a simple, broad leather belt and his favoured footwear, if any, is either simple sandals or a pair of well-worn boots.
However, this lack of ostentatiousness does not detract from his noble bearing and features and instead only seem to accentuate his ancestry as a man of the desert. As such, even barefoot and without even a robe at hand, his presence is one that speaks of command and confidence. Also, as of to complement this, he rarely raises his voice at all, typically speaking barely above a whisper, his tone akin to the abrasion of a stone against a rough blade.
Personality:
The Caliph can, by most, be summed up as being calm, thoughtful and deliberate. However, beyond his cool exterior burn deep passions. He is a man of the desert and has been known to make regular forays across the sands himself either for pilgrimage, answering a call from one of his nobles or simply to raid into the lands adjoining the arbitrary line between Rohari and Archades. But he is also one who seeks to unify and settle down his people so they may all benefit from peaceful contacts with their neighbours. As such, he often tames his passions for the sake of the future his grandfather started.
Despite his apparent calm and patience, he is not a man whose resolve is to be tested. Once he has drawn a line, it is utterly inflexible and his whispered word is law. However, should he raise his voice, even to that of most people's conversation, one knows he had reached a point where heeding his words is most recommended. But rarely does he shout or yell and when he does, the rarity of this act is often enough to reassert his dominance.
He takes his responsibilities seriously and has been known to do himself, or at least attend things typically left to servants. The few times he had to deliver on his warnings regarding hostages, he attended the shearing of daughters and he swung the blade that removed the hands of sons and personally bound and cauterized the wound before calling for the surgeons. The one time he had to go to the extreme of these measures, he ensured his hostages would have a swift and painless death and he personally led the army that delivered their remains in all honour.
Despite his hard lines and unforgiving policies, he is not a tyrant or a cruel man. He rules with a tight fist and allows much of the traditional feuding and raising and warring between tribes as to respect their heritage, stepping in only when things get out of hand. He has also been known to make reparations to Archadean border lords who suffered over zealous depredations by raiders and seeks to maintain a degree of peace across the border.
He is a very devout man and performs all of the rites and prayers required to the Two. Also, he is a firm adherent to the Roharwali code and lets it guide a great many of his decisions, only deviating when no other viable options exist. As such, he had proven acceptable to the more conservative elements of his people while still moving his agenda forward.
To say he loves his children is an understatement. He utterly adores them, especially his youngest daughters who are the light of his serious life. Of his sons and eldest daughter, he expects much and his affection for them is somewhat more subdued yet undeniable.
Eminently practical, he utilizes his brothers as his honoured and esteemed counselors and agents, roles they share with his sons as they too are being taught what is involved with ruling and he sincerely hopes he will be able to impart enough of these lessons on them they will be fit to rule when the time comes.
Specific Skills or Abilities:
At his very core, Qasim is Rohari as such he was well-schooled in the sciences of arms as is a sacred duty amongst all Sand Men. As one meant to become Caliph, his training was exacting, and still ongoing as much of the authority of his position depends on his ability to hold it. With scimitar, spear or the horn and sinew bow of the true desert warriors, he excels. Also, he is an excellent rider of horse and camel alike and maintains extensive stables of fine examples of both animals.
He is also a shrewd statesman and a consummate diplomat and it is more through these skills than force of arms that he has secured his position as Caliph. As such, he is also a very strong leader who knows precisely where and when he should delegate and to whom, sometimes to the offence of better-born candidates for a given task, and where he should handle things personally in order to achieve the desired end-result. It goes without saying he is a master planner and strategist and often his plans are far-reaching and feature many a complex scheme that might seem to be a discreet goal.
It goes without saying that games of strategy are one of his strong suits.
As befits a man of his station, he also dabbles in other disciplines with varying degrees of success. As a poet, he is deemed passable at best, atrocious at the worst. However, he is a precise calligrapher and his works as a painter and makers of mosaics are considered to be quite pleasing.
Background:
From birth, Qasim was destined to be a Caliph. As such, no effort or expense in his education and upbringing were spared. However, his youth was not all tutors and instructors and the like. Much of his learning he did at the side of his father and uncles, learning firsthand what was involved in being the Caliph of the Rohari. Granted, many times he was used as little more than a scribe for the proceedings, or a silent observer, but he learned well and before long he was entrusted with tasks of his own as his father's will and emissary.
Another hallmark of his upbringing was how he was often assigned to perform menial tasks or join men of lesser births in their trades, even to the point of living with them, sharing their food and drink and be effectively stripped of his rank and its attendant honours and privileges. The reasoning behind it was that he would know the life of his people and therefore be better able to lead them in the future.
In the end, it all served him well as he became familiar with the way of life of his entire people and not only the privileged castes.
At the age of fifteen now a man in the eyes of the law and the gods, he began to be seriously utilized as his father's agent and more responsibilities were being passed on to him. That is until it became apparent Caliph Fahlad was ill and a wasting disease was slowly killing him from the inside out.
As such, at the age of sixteen, Qasim became the ruler of Rohari in all but name, reigning in his father's stead. The two years until Fahlad's death in his sleep were harrowing for the young man and he found himself beset from all sides. However, through his wits, determination and his thorough education he managed to pull through and fully assert himself as al-Khalifah.
It was during that period of his life that, at the age of seventeen, he was married to secure a strong ally. Perhaps it was a political wedding, but from pure practicality rose a deep love and what joy he found at being a husband was only eclipsed by his joy at being a father.
However, his joy was not to be endless for, when his youngest daughter Amirah was but two years of age, his wife took a bad fall and struck her head. The impact did not kill her outright, but she dropped dead a week later. It has always bothered the Caliph, for he knew his bride was a masterful dancer and as sure-footed as a cat. While it was considered an accident, part of him always wonders if it was murder most foul.
As Caliph, his shrewd mind and decisive nature were quick to secure his position, and ever since he instituted his system and code of hostageship, he managed to pacify his Sheikhs and Emirs and since, barring a few misguided attempts to test his resolve or seriousness, he was surrounded by scions of noble houses whom he included into his own household to be treated as lesser princes and princesses, to the point of granting a few of them a degree of autonomy and even political power as he earned their trust and loyalty, and they earned his.
Over two decades, Qasim did much to settle his people down and make entreaties with Archades, ever hopeful to arrange for permanent and fruitful relations with his neighbours, before they would grow strong and united enough themselves to do what the strong ever did to the weak and subjugate them and as such seeks to treat with their King as an equal and not a mere tribal leader.
Writing Sample:
So far, Rafael was tempted to say things were looking good. After all, he was not turned away at the gate thanks to his uninvited visit and he was not immediately treated to a solitary locked room or asked to relinquish the longsword and rondel dagger at his waist.
He knew his men would not reveal anything. Both men at arms were part of the ducal bodyguard and the one manservant was a trusted member of his staff back in Talencia. And all knew how to hold their tongues so he was not worried about any secrets spilling out when they would be conversing with Gilboa's soldiery and staff. Oh yes, he knew these games were played. They would be watched, and some would engage them in conversation if only to glean information as to the nature of their visit.
The warlike Sandoval had very carefully calculated his approach, thinking of it as he would the preamble to a battle. Yes, he did introduce himself as Nacimiento's heir and there could be no way they would not know he was Joaquin's second son. If anything, he expected it would pique some curiosity and get him deeper into the door. Not to mention the deceptive manner of their travel and their entry into the city. That alone would guarantee him an audience with the Marquess. And meeting Zorion Ibarra was the sole crucial point of this visit.
Rafe was close to sitting down in the seat be was being guided to by a servant when another armed person arrived. Men at arms, he expected. After all, the enmity between the Houses Sandoval and Ibarra was well-known, and so was his reputation as one of the best fighters in Archades. So of course he would be watched closely. But when this form spoke, it was a woman! Oh yes, Therese Ibarra, the lady knight. Part of this woman's existence pissed him off. He was knighted by his father for his service to Nacimiento but the Crown had refused to recognize his elevation, effectively preventing his rise above being a man-at-arms.
And he could tell how she was itching to reach for her weapons. And he couldn't blame her. However, he inclined his head to her with all courtesy. "Dame Therese. You are known well outside the borders of Estersea. It is an honour to meet you."
And then, he performed one more gesture of good will and he expertly undid the belt from which his sword hung and he handed the plain and utilitarian weapon to another attendant. So there he was, unarmoured and now devoid of the longsword with which he was an undisputed master.
This was a battlefield all right and he had to create his opportunities.
