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"Agreed, let's block that secret door, look at what we found and go after that Muli fellow. Still I will say a few words for Mistress Ayyam and we will put her to rest here before leaving." If agreed, Issam will perform the last rites for the deceased merchant.
Issam grabs a torch from the room and lits it up, following Zairia with some distance so as not to perturb her night vision.
Issam takes out his holy symbol and chants a song of praise to Balla before laying his hands on Zairiah's wounds.
He then looks at the symbol. "This is symbol of Kor. I think it is worshipped by all kind of people but undead, I never heard of that. First we had that priest of Zann, god of knowledge then that directed us here. Then that ghast who is or was worshiping Kor. Plus this treacherous lawyer... Zairiah, I'm afraid you had been caught in something much bigger than it seems." He looks a Nura. "So we know where they came from. I agree we should follow this evil to its core and cleanse it."
Issam rubs his eyes and when the flashes dissipate, finaly recovers his vision. "It seems that we were awaited here. Another plot of your companion's ennemy, Zairiah ?", he says looking at the silver symbol over her shoulder.
"Is anyone in need of healing? I can spare some.", he adds.
Still blinded, Issam listens to the fray and fells his way towards the undead creature and tries to cut it in half with his blade.
Issam tries to move towards the last standing ghoul and attacks it ,
Still blinded, Issam swing widely at the last ghoul, missing by miles.
Bloodied, unable to affect the creature and blinded by the glitterdust spell, Issam steps back and calls for Bala to help him.
Issam recoils as the ghoul bites and slashes him but he fights the poison an tries to strike back.
Issan draws his scimitar and runs towards an undead left to its own, trying to take it down before it turned on the pallbearers.
Expecting assasins and not undead, Issam steps back in horror and trips. Shakily standing up, he calls for Balla to help him repell those abominations.
Issam nods at Zairiah comment: "Agreed" and he puts a hand on the pommel of the scimitar, keeping the "priest" in his sight.
"One priest was waiting for use, the priest had said. Why are they 5 of them praying and no one is waiting for us?" Issam looks suspiciously at the five priest praying and positions himself between them and the procession without a word. "I may be paranoid but this would be the perfect place to stage an ambush if whoever killed Mistress Ayyam wanted to finish the job."
Issam quietly asks the priest if there is anything he could do to help. He has presided over multiple funerals but they were in his tribe and not run by city dwellers. "May the gods be with you, brother Hanoushin. I am Issam ibn Walin from the House of Hanif. If there is anything I can do to assist with the ceremony, please ask. I am willing to help as best as I can but I do not want to cause an impair."
Before leaving the Bazaar, Issam lets the people he talked to know that he will pay for any new information about the two murderers whereabouts.
Issam goes to the Bazaar with the group and spends time talking to the kids and young beggars and pickpockets that have a better idea of what's going on than most merchants and passers-by.
"I say we look into this Covered Bazaar. There's bound to be a few witnesses there--we can question them, or see if we can find some trace of the killer!" "This is a wise course of action. I think some of us should go to the Bazaar before it closes or people forget what they saw. Some of us should also stay with Zairiah as well. Maybe those who killed her friend will want to push their luck if they learn Zairiah is back."
Almost imperceptible at first, just as an echo to the tears, you hear chords. Issam fingers slowly pick the strings of his oud. The sound gains volume and the Saba maquam used underlines the pain and sadness of the situation. The voice of Issam raises above the music. He doesn't sing but slightly modulates the pitch of his voice to match the melody. "This is a sad day and we all mourn with you, Zairiah. But as we mourn your friend and mentor, we are all together with you. You are not alone and you did not fail. There is no failure in pain. There is no failure in loosing one of his family. But there is failure in surrendering to the pain. My words may sound empty now but I have felt the pain of loss time and time again. Use it like my music, use it as a tool. For there is beauty in pain and in joy and there is strength here as well." Slowly, the Saba maquam is modulated in Rast as he goes on. "You are not alone in this house. Just as you offered your ship to take us here. Let us offer you our cunning, our wisdom and our strength. You have not failed until you quit. Let us track the murderers first and follow their trail up to their master. A price was paid today in your quest for justice. Let's not waste it."
Issam is busing himself brewing tea while he slowly recovers from his bout of sea sickness.
"This is the best news I've heard! I think the sea does not like me.", he replies with a queasy voice. "It is worse than riding a drunk camel with a flask of date wine in your belly. How can you like that?"
Issam stores his meager belongings in the first available cabin and goes upper-deck to try to help. While curious about the ocean, he had never set foot on anything looking like a ship and finds himself disoriented.
Issam is also ready to move
The white haired man sits at the table. He is clad in a typical Al-Badia dress and armor and sets an oud case on the side. "May the gods bless all of you. I am Issam ibn Wallid,one of Fadilah's removed uncle. I'm afraid I've leaned on my family connections with my bright niece to join you company for your upcoming travel." he says in a rumbling low and melodious voice. "I will pull my weight during that journey if you agree with my presence." He gives a bright and shining smile around. "I have been a healer for most of my life as well as a singer, storyteller and teacher. so do not hesitate to come to me if you think I can be of use."
At the end of the meal, Issam takes his leave from his cousins, leaving his camel with them as a thanks for their hospitality.
Fadi and Issam Issam glances at Fadilah trying to gauge her reaction and raises a hand to allay the concerns of her mother. "From what I hear, I have no doubt my niece and her companions can handle themselves better that I do and I would not presume to impose myself as a sort of guardian. But if Fadilah think my wisdom could be of use, I will gladly accompany her."
"Thank you for the recommandation. I would gladly acceptand accompany you and your companions around the free cities for some time before settling down somewhere." "I may look older but I'm still strong enough to pull my weight. And my Mistress saw fit to lend me some of her powers. Besides, on a more mundane level, my music could complement your poetry."
"So it seems. You seem to have accomplished much in a short time.", Issam nods at the enthusiasm of the young Shai'ra. "And you have seen more that many people would in their whole lives." He pause a moment, trying to sort his thoughts. "If I may ask, as you have just been to Muluk, could you tell me how the city fares. I mean, are their opportunities for people from elsewhere to settle there? And how are the inhabitants considering the Pantheonist view of the gods?" He sips some of the tea and picks up a cube of lamb. "I am asking with vested interest, you see, for I am thinking of relocating my family somewhere in the north." And if by chance you were going back to Muluk in the coming days, I would ask if there was a small space for an old man like me on that merchant boat."
"Ah cousin! It's been long since I set foot in our city of birth. But from the last news I had, the servants of the Pantheon are not releasing their grip on the city. Both them and fellow followers of our Lady of Songs are pushing each other to more extreme actions... I am afraid the Pantheonists will soon turn their gaze outwards to the tribes of the desert or even to other cities." His smile turns sour for a moment. "But this is not the time for such dark tidings, for your daughter is back and we should celebrate her, her youth and her future." He picks up his oud and pinches a few bright chords, looking at Fadilah. "I apologize for bringing the mood down. Tell us about your adventures. The ramblings of an old man are certainly not worth your stories."
When Fadilah enters the main room, she see a man half-raising from the bench behind the table. He is old, about your parents age, maybe a little older and way shorter than you.
He smiles with bright white teeth with white and bright brown eyes look at you with interest. There is something oddly familiar with the cut of the nose and the cheekbones. "We are blessed by the gods today, for the fabled prodigal daughter has returned." A deep bass voice, surprisingly coming out of such a small man, fills the room. He give a half-bow and goes on: "Your mother was just telling me all about your going to train with a practitioner of the magical arts." He smiles again and one of his hands caresses the smooth and patinated belly of an oud set on the table. "But I am a uncouth guest for I know of you and you don't. I am Issam ibn Walid one of your twice removed uncle on your father's side, if my memory doesn't fail me."
Issam feel free to jump in after my next post. Thanks, I will get in later today.
Hi all, This is Issam, Llaelian's cleric character. I went with the proposed link to Fadilah's familly, being a second cousin of her father. I believe my character is ready.
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