Dungeon23 (Bonus): The Great One and the Elemental Dukes of the Far West

The Great One and the Elemental Dukes of the Far West

 

Faadlih-al Bahdri does his best writing under moonlight (adapted from AI image courtesy of (NightCafe.)

The following is compiled from excerpts of letters between Bishop Phelios of Alkastra and Faadlih al-Bahdri, Royal Sage to His Majesty, Sultan Tamer I of Bahdra:

 

“In the Hidden Name of the Great One, Hallowed be He,

 

My friend!   You must forgive the lateness of this missive.  My Liege is embroiled in conflict against one of our numerous Mam’luk Sultans, and all our ships are necessary to guard our shores.  I am blessed to have a merciful and understanding lord that allows these letters, for he is also curious about the wider world.

Despite the war, I write to you on a serene night with a bright crescent shining molten silver over the harbor of my beloved Bahdra, Greatest and Most Holiest City in the World.  It is nights like these, caressed by the gentle breezes of Zartuus that ward away the relentless day heat of Kayi’ri, that I am inspired to do my best writing by the moon and lamplight.

In your last letter, you asked me many things about our beautiful land, our culture, and our ways.  Such answers cannot come too quickly, like negotiations that occur over many days and many nights with no less (and no more) than three cups of tea each.  No conversation about our land can begin without discussion of our religion, and that entails relating the story of my people…”

 

The Time of Wandering

The story of my people begins with the diaspora following the destruction of the world and Many-Spired Ba’adil, which you claim may be your City of Humankind.

Our people were lost, wandering the Steppe forsaken by Bhaal’mut, which we both recognize as our Sky, and your Dragon Father.  They only survived because the Great One (Hallowed be His Hidden Name) who was a Keeper of the Laws, took many people to shelter in a cave of black meteorite where they prayed for the Sky Father’s wrath to subside.

They emerged to a different world.  The land had been wiped clean and all they could see was a cold, arid sea of dry grass.  They wandered aimlessly for a long time, until their feet were raw, their bellies empty, and their throats parched.  Shivering in the night, the Great One prayed and prayed for guidance, but no answer came.

In his frustration, the Great One climbed up a mountain and yelled at the sky.  It was the first and last time his sacred lips would ever utter profanity.  This impassioned yelling and beating of the ground and his own body roused the attention of the Elemental Dukes, who summoned emissaries to visit him.  The first of these Jinn represented Zartuus, the Duke of Air.  She sent a breeze to cool the Great One’s body and shaken heart, so that he could hearken to her master’s message: “My lord Zartuus has heard thy cries in the wind and bids thee welcome!  He has tasked me with helping thee and thy people.  I will take thee in the winds to visit his brother and sister Dukes.  They will provide means and show thee ways to live in this land.”  The Great One was dumbfounded, but took the Jinni’s outstretched hand.  She took flight and carried the Great One into the air.  After a brief flight, she pointed down to the grasslands: “This is the domain of Aksuun, Duke of Earth.  There, thou will meet his emissary.  Hearken to him!”  The Air Jinni landed and left the Great One there alone.

The Jinn serve the Elemental Dukes.  This one serves as emissary for Zartuus the Duke of Air (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

Suddenly, another Jinni emerged from the ground.  He laughed boisterously, flashed an ivory smile, and bellowed: “Welcome to my lord Aksuun’s domain!  Come with me, for my lord has many gifts for you!”  The Jinni guided the Great One and gestured over the horizon: “See those animals?  They feed off my lord’s grass, which grows from his ground.  The larger ones are horses.  You can ride them to swiftly move about his domain.  The smaller ones are sheep, and they will follow you.  You can consume their milk and flesh, and their skin and wool will cover your bodies and keep you warm.”

“Please thank this Duke Aksuun on my behalf.”  The Great One bowed his head politely.  The Jinni laughed and flashed his ivory grin once again:  “But wait!  There’s more!”  He handed the Great One a bag of assorted rocks and sticks and another bag of pungent horse dung.  “Hoho!  Don’t make such a face!  These are great gifts and the next emissary you meet will teach you what to do with them.  Farewell!”  The Jinni began to spin faster and faster until he burrowed under the ground and left the Great One alone.

At this time, the Jinni of Air returned:  “Take my hand again, but please wipe off the horse dung before thou doest so.  It is forbidden to touch the holy with unclean hands.”  The Great One complied and they flew off, past Aksuun’s land and mountains where the Sun rests every night.  This was the domain of Kayi’ri, the Duchess of Fire.  The Air Jinni puffed her cheeks and blew a cool circle in the flames of the Sun where the Great One could stand safely.  There she left him.

Glad for the warmth, the Great One waited in the circle for a while.  He did not have to wait long until a Fire Jinn emerged from the dancing flames.  It did not speak, but its intense gaze and gestures could communicate far more than mere words.  It bade the Great One sit and then it began teaching and demonstrating: the heat of Kayi’ri could be used to melt some of the rocks in the bag.  These could be shaped into many things and combined with the sticks to make tools and weapons.  These in turn could be used to hunt, defend oneself from wild beasts or wilder creatures, or make other things from the hides and bones of the animals in Aksuun’s domain, such as clothes, saddles, bags, and tents.  The horse dung was an even greater prize, for the spark of certain rocks could bring it and a bundle of sticks to flame.  With that flame one can roast the flesh of animals for food and keep the chill of the steppe away.

The Great One thanked the Fire Jinni for this knowledge.  The Jinni in turn bowed to the Great One with hand to chest and disappeared into the flames.  The Air Jinni returned and whisked the Great One away: “One last emissary before I let thee go back to thy people.”

The Air Jinni dropped the Great One off by a mighty river.  Here, she actually stayed to visit with her friend, a Water Jinni, who emerged from the river and waived.  “Welcome!  I know the night grows short, so I won’t keep you.  Come and see what my Duchess Quaatia has to offer!”  The Water Jinn beckoned the Great One to gaze at the clear waters.  “You can clean your body and quench your thirst here.  When you feel better, you may take the fish to feed yourself.  You can use my mistress’ waters, herbs from Aksuun’s land, and heat from Kayi’ri to make delicious tea to warm you in your tent and heal your constitution, but blow on it first!”  The Water Jinni giggled and swam in a circle – so excitable was she, like the rippling waters. “When your people have enjoyed all the gifts, gather them and follow this river.  It will take you to a sea where you can build permanent homes.”  She waived at her friend again and dove back into the water.

“Art thou ready to return?”  The Great One nodded.  He was tearful and at a loss for words to thank the Elemental Dukes for all these great gifts.  The Air Jinni understood: “All the Dukes ask in return is that thou and thy people honor them.  Thou canst call to them in thy hour of need and they will answer.”  She held out her hand and carried the Great One through the dawning sky and back to his people.

 

March to the Inland Sea

The Great One (Blessed be His Boundless and Infinite Mind and Wisdom) showed his people the Elemental Duke’s gifts.  Understand that this took a long time, for although the Great One was blessed with instant knowledge the people needed far more time to master these skills.  Eventually, they became adept at riding and hunting from the horse, building their tools, setting up their camps, and tending to their flocks.  The Great One led them in worship and glorifying of the Elemental Dukes that had saved them.  They prospered, and their numbers grew and grew.

When the Great One thought his people were ready, he gathered them: “It is now time for us to wander the steppe.  We will find, and follow Duchess Quaatia’s river to the Promised Sea.”

 

“…my friend, in your last letter you asked whether my people ever encountered the one you call Mythras.  There is indeed an obscure story about a hero named Maitra.  It is said that this hero received the Great One’s blessing and with it, defeated a giant, Bronze Bull that terrorized his people.  Unfortunately, the stories make no mention of this hero after that.  My religion recognizes many heroes and prophets, but the Great One is above them all (Mighty is He of the Unspeakable Name.)…”

 

For many years, they wandered the steppe, following the Great One’s guidance.  They encountered many adversities, which caused several clans to lose faith and leave with their horses and herds.  This did not deter the Great One and his True Faithful.  This steadfastness was rewarded when they finally found Quaatia’s river.  The Water Jinni had been waiting for them, and she swam around excitedly: “Took you long enough!  Well?  What are you waiting for?!  Follow me!”  She swam downriver and the Great One and his people had to spur their horses to keep up with the Water Jinni’s speed.

Eventually, they reached the promised, Inland Sea fed by the river’s waters.  Here, the Great One and his people could finally rest, and build their homes.

The Great One's people wander the steppe (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

Exodus from the Horde

The Great One (Mighty is His Faith and Wise His Guidance,) and his people prospered on the shores of the Inland sea.  They continued to honor their Elemental Dukes, bred their loyal mounts and animals, and fished the waters while building a beautiful city. 

Unfortunately, this peace would not last.  The faithless horse tribes also grew numerous, to the point that the land of Aksuun could no longer sustain them.  They learned about the city by the Inland Sea and turned their covetous eyes to it.  Their Khan agitated the clans into a frenzied horde to descend upon the Great One’s people and take what had been denied.

The invasion came suddenly.  The Great One and his people were not able to prepare fast enough.  He beseeched the Elemental Dukes for aid and they answered with their Jinn emissaries:

The Air Jinni said: “Fear not!  Open the gates and let the East wind in.  It will guide thy enemies to their doom.  Thou and thy people shalt wait by the shore.”

The Fire Jinni gestured to the Sun, and the Great One understood that Kayi’ri would smite their enemies with pillars of fire.

The Water Jinni said: “My mistress will part the sea to let you through, but it will drown your enemies.”

Finally, the Earth Jinni said: “My lord will open his mountains to you and your people, so that you can flee to safety.”

The Great One and his people gathered their horses and supplies and met at the shore of the Inland Sea.  The horde of their former horse-brothers fast approached the city in a cloud of dust, like the sand storms of the desert.

The Horde comes! (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

As they neared the city, balls of flame fell from the sky, exploding on impact and sending burning horses and men into the air, but the innumerable horde still came.  Their vanguard was nearing the open gate. 

The people were becoming fearful and this affected their horses, some which bucked and dropped their riders into the ground.  The Great One reassured his people, raising his staff high into the sky: “Hold fast to your faith, my people!  Behold!  Quaatia comes to our aid!”  And so she did, as the Inland Sea parted to let the Great One and his people through.  They spurred their horses and rode through bare silt bordered by the churning, parted waves.

The horde cleared the gate, swarmed into the city, and rushed through the parted waters after them.  A third of them made it through behind the Great One and his people before the waves crashed upon the rest.  The remaining vanguard that had cleared the waves tried to fire arrows at them, but Zartuus’ Jinn blew them aside.  The Great One and his people were reaching the imposing mountains behind the sea.  They would soon be trapped.

But mighty Aksuun cracked the mountains in twain and created a pass for the Great One and his people.  He whispered a silent prayer to the Elemental Duke and urged his people to ride through.  Now, the waters from the Inland Sea were flowing into the cleft.  The Water Jinni glided along these waters, laughing as they rushed to consume the flanks of the pursuing horsemen.  With the last of them gone, and once clear of the mountains and the rushing waters, the Great One and his people could stop and rest.  The Water Jinn said as she flowed by the slowly calming waters: “Follow these when you feel up to riding again!  There you will be safe!”

Back in the abandoned city by the Inland Sea, the frustrated Khan and his remaining men looted what they could and returned to the steppe.  They left the cursed and haunted Ghost City by the sea and never returned.

 

Arrival in the Summer Paradise

The Great One (Elemental Dukes keep his Greatness) and his people followed the newly-formed river past the mountains to a lush paradise with a seemingly endless summer.  The dark-skinned natives, who knew and honored the Elemental Dukes, welcomed the newcomers with open arms.  They fed them sweet dates from their palm trees and even sweeter figs and other fruits from their orchards.  Many of the Great One’s people came to love these natives and stayed with them, but the Great One admonished the rest that their destiny was always beyond the river.  Some of the faithful natives even joined them.

A man of the Summer Paradise (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

Finally, they arrived at the sea at the World’s End.  There, they built the dwellings that would one day grow to become my beloved Bahdra.  From this place, the Great One ruled as the first Caliph, and devised the Holy Laws that would organize his people; his kazis, would keep them.  The people then multiplied and spread to other lands along the coast and built their own cities where their Sultans paid homage to the Caliph in Bahdra; all worshiping the Elemental Dukes as one people.

 

“…my friend, I understand that accounts of people from the Summer Paradise which have made their way to your land say that the interactions between the Great One’s people and the natives of the Summer Paradise were not as friendly as described in the stories.  All I can say is that perhaps the stories were true then, but now, we are a people fallen far from the grace of the Great One (may He forgive my heretical tongue) as you will soon see…”

 

The Passing of the Great One

Although the blessings of the Elemental Dukes had extended the Great One’s life beyond mortal expectancy (Forever is His Holy Greatness,) he had become old and tired.  All of the people of Bahdra and the other cities heard of the Great One’s ailing, and gathered around the Ivory Palace, for they so loved him.  He smiled and told those gathered:  “I have toiled all my life for you and I am pleased with what my people have wrought.   I go to the Elemental Paradise happy.  Do not weep for me.” Despite his commandment, the people could not help but wail and tear at their clothes and bodies in terrible grief.

At this time, the Jinn emissaries of the Elemental Dukes arrived.  As one, they proclaimed: “Great One!  You have been a faithful servant and brought much honor to our masters. They are greatly pleased.  Your reward will not just be the Paradise where the Elements converge.  Nay!  Your work on earth is done, but your labors above are just beginning.  You will live forever and watch over your people at the side of the Elemental Dukes.”

The Jinn carried the Great One to the Paradise above, and the people cried no more.  They knew the Great One would always be with them.  The kazis declared that his mortal name would never be uttered again.  He was the Great One – Ascended, Immortal, and Eternal; no other name could describe him.  Similarly, any artistic depiction of his mortal form is the gravest sacrilege.  We do not decorate our temples blasphemously as you do, and they are the more beautiful for it.  I say this with apologies and utmost respect, my friend, but I must stand by my faith.

 

The Crisis of Succession

The Great One (Elemental Dukes Bless His many labors,) toiled for his people for so long that he never had time to take a wife; not that there weren’t many who would have been honored for the privilege.  He had no holy offspring, and never named a successor to the mantle of Caliph.  The kazis discussed, argued, and prayed on who would lead them as the next Caliph.  Factions began to form between them, with the Sultans being forced to choose sides.  This ended in one terrible result: war.

The walls of the Ivory Palace in Bahdra may be bleached white, but its history is stained red with blood (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

I will not bore you with stories of every dynasty that ascended to the Ivory Throne by the sword.  Suffice it to say that many Caliphs and Kalifas both benevolent and tyrannical have ruled my people through history, though all dynasties would end in war. There are a few key points about these dynastic struggles that are important to understanding my land:

·         The Sultans sought many advantages over their enemies.  Some began to truck with sorcerers who used the forbidden powers of Chaos to bind the Jinn into service.  These unfortunate Jinn were enslaved or corrupted to their master’s wishes.  Some would eventually break free of their bonds and wreak terrible vengeance on their captors.  These fallen Jinn still exist in the wild and abandoned places, some still bound in service to objects, places, and people that no longer exist.  Some are mostly benevolent djinn who only wish to live free in the wind, but others are terrible ifrit that are like your “demons” and “devils” of Chaos (those exist here too) and plague our people.  The most powerful of these fallen and foul beings do the unthinkable: seduce the faithful to worship them in terrible apostasy and ultimate damnation.

·         Some truly despicable Sultans employed these sorcerers to animate their fallen soldiers to fight again.  They were no match against kazis of the True Faith, who could easily turn or destroy them through the power of the Elemental Dukes and Great One.

·         Other Sultans courted a foreign death cult and used their slayers to dispatch their enemies in a dishonorable manner.  These hashshashin continue to ply their dark trade in the shadows of our cities.  They sound very much like your Sicarii.

·         The loss of life in these protracted wars was so great, that it prompted many Sultans to resort to the abominable practice of stealing the children of their enemies and others, such as the people of the Summer Paradise, gelding them, and training them as Mam’luks – slave warriors, to bolster their armies.  Eventually, the mam’luks began to outnumber the Sultans’ armies, and rose in both prestige and station, which led to their master’s downfall.

 

Rise of the Mam’luk Sultans

A capable and high-ranking Mam’luk in Bahdra, Salahd the Great, conspired with his fellow slave-warriors throughout the cities and led them in rebellion to overthrow the Sultans.  He, perhaps wisely, forced the kazis to unite under the idea and understanding that the Great One (His Infinite Wisdom will never be ours) never meant for there to be a successor, and therefore anyone who claims to be the rightful Caliph is false and a heretic pretender to the Great One's glory.  Salahd then came to rule Bahdra as Sultan, parsing the remaining cities among his lieutenants, who then ruled as Sultans themselves; this led to a short-lived era of peace.

The fact that the mam’luks could bear no offspring caused their own conflicts of succession in their separate lands.  Some continued the horrible practice of creating more mam’luks then, choosing the greatest among them as their successor.  Others would keep harems of lovers, and when one mysteriously had a child, the Mam’luk Sultan (or “pregnant” Sultana) would have the kazis declare it a miracle of the Elemental Dukes and would name their child heir (who was to tell them any different?)  

More forward-thinking ones, like my Liege’s predecessor, kept the practice of mam’luks only as elite units and bodyguards that anyone capable enough can swear their life to and join voluntarily. These Janizari make for better, loyal, and moral soldiers worthy of assuming the mantle of Sultan, like my lord.

 

Sultan Tamer I of Bahdra is one of the more forward-thinking of the Mam'luk Sultans (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

The Religion of the Far West

As told in our story, my people worship the four Elemental Dukes, through the teachings and guidance the Great One.  During my people’s time of wandering the steppe, there were no “priests” or “clerics” as you describe.  All followed the Great One and trusted in the protection of the Elemental Dukes.  These are them:

 Zartuus (zar-TOOS) the Duke of Air (N): Wise and intelligent Zartuus is the Lord of the Winds.  All who deal in knowledge thank Zartuus, even poets, musicians, and artists, whom he sends his Air Jinn to with creativity and inspiration in his winds.  The Great One’s meeting with his emissary was the beginning of a new life for his people.  As such, we seek Zartuus’ blessing with any new venture.

Aksuun (ak-SOON) the Duke of Earth (N): Aksuun is like the earth that is his domain - strong and stable.  All who work with the earth, from stonemasons to farmers thank Aksuun for his gifts.  Indeed, Aksunn is associated with both the fertile earth and fertile people, so that his blessing is sought before the wedding night so that a union will be fruitful.  And, in the sad event of someone’s passing, we give them to Aksuun’s bosom for safekeeping as their soul seeks Paradise.

People who need to stand strong in the face of adversity also seek Aksuun’s blessing to make their will like unto stone.

Kayi’ri (kai-REE) the Duchess of Fire (N): Kayi’ri is the lady of the Sun and Fire both in the world and in our hearts.  Life, youth, strength, and bravery are the blessings of Kayi’ri.  Her light and heat drive away the terrors of the night, so we also seek her blessing in protecting our people.  Soldiers channel her fiery wrath in dealing righteous vengeance to enemies of the faith.  Kay’ri also inflames the passions in our hearts, but the Great One teaches that at such times we may need to cool such impulses with the wisdom of Zaruus’ winds and the quenching of Quaatia’s waters; all elements must be in balance, like the tea that is a combination of all of the Elemental Duke’s blessings.

Quaatia (koo-AH-tee-ah) the Duchess of Water (N): Quaatia is the ever-changing Mistress of the Waters.  Her mercurial nature means sailors placate her when taking to her seas so that she will carry them lovingly to their destination and not destroy them with her occasional turbulences.  Those whose vocation is to cool emotions, and smooth negotiations, such as heralds and diplomats, seek Quaatia’s blessing.  We also associate Quaatia with the emotions of love and caring.  New lovers and new mothers are under the care of Quaatia.  There is a connection between Quaatia’s seas, the Moon, and the mysteries of women.

Although the Dukes themselves, being holy and separate from mortals, are above cosmic matters of Law and Chaos, the Great One was a man of order and Law.  Once he and his people were established on the western coast, he set to writing, under the Elemental Duke’s inspiration, the laws and codes that would guide the faithful.  In this task, he created an order of kazis, which like your “clerics,” guide the people in worship of the Elemental Dukes and in following the Great One’s teachings. 

You have mentioned that many of these seem like the laws of your Dragon Father, and that may be true, for the Great One was once a Keeper of the Sky Father’s Law, but understand that through the Great One, these codes have achieved their ultimate and perfect expression.  Only the kazis may debate the finer points of these. 

The holiest of kazis are even granted miracles by the Elemental Dukes, as the Great One had been.  Some choose one or two of the Elemental Dukes as their patron, to further learn the deeper mysteries of their elements.  (Game Note: at the GM’s discretion, clerics of the Elemental Dukes may add one or two elemental-based spells from the magic-user spell list to their cleric spell list.  However, they lose access to cleric spells of the opposing element; Air/Earth, Water/Fire.  Clerics may exchange these elemental spells for higher level ones later on.)

Like your “templars,” the kazis have also had to engage in battle against enemies of the faith.  Sadly, the wars of the Sultans have muddied Quaatia’s clear waters as to who exactly an “enemy” of the faith is.  As a result, the kazis have learned not to use weapons that cut or pierce.  Their onion-headed maces are well known:  “do not anger the kazi, or he will smite your head with his onion!”

Hearken onto the kazi, or feel the wrath of his steel onion! (AI image courtesy of NightCafe.)

 

As to worship for the lay person, we all pray five times a day: once to honor each Elemental Duke plus the Great One.  No matter where a man or woman of my land is, we all pray in the direction of the Ivory Palace in Bahdra.  Once a week, we join the community in worship, much like the people of your land do.  We study the holy writings of the Great One, for literacy is prized among my people, but not to the extent that the kazis do.

 

“…my friend, I know you’ve expressed interest in our curious, mechanical timekeeping devices that are becoming fashionable to mark the five prayer times of the day.  Some kazis do not like these, as they prefer the singing callers in their minarets.  Some have taken to smashing these with their steel onions, but I will see if I can pick one up at the bazaar for you, and if you see fit to send me one of those barrels of Redbrand wine in return, I will be infinitely grateful (Great One help my weakness…)"

 

The Bedawan

It should be noted that some of my people felt that after the terrible wars for the Caliphate that we had gone astray from the ways of the Great One and the Elemental Dukes.  They claim that their earlier, nomadic way of life in the steppe was purer than the soft and debased life of the cities.  This movement even attracted some kazis that believe the truth of the Elemental Dukes can only be experienced directly in the land, the wind, under the Sun, and in the search for water like when the Great One led his people through the steppe to find Quaatia’s river.

Their tribes call themselves bedawan (Those Who Seek,) and now wander the periphery of the southern deserts, where ruins and tombs of an ancient people from before the arrival of the Great One lie.  They are insular, but as faithful as any in this land.  Some help caravans with their knowledge of the desert, but others are strident in their beliefs and consider any intrusion on their lands, even by fellow faithful of the cities, a grievous affront.

 

“…I hope these stories and accounts have helped you understand my land and people, just like I now have a much better understanding of yours.  I look forward to your next letter, and may the Great One and Elemental Dukes (along with your Lords of Law) bring peace upon you and your land.

 

Humbly Yours,

Faadlih ibn-Aziz al-Bahdri

Sage and Most Faithful Servant to His Eminent Majesty, Sultan Tamer I of the Holy City of Bahdra”