The Sands of Saria

Here goes another one (couldn't resist it)..



Name: Sati

Age: very, very old.. But currently in 20-ish form

Gender: Male

Role: a Genie released from his bottle (yes he was in a bottle, lamps are overdone ) and currently masterless. Came to Saria a year ago, and for a while had a job in fulfilling wishes of one of the princesses. Now he doesn't t really live anywhere, as he doesn't need to sleep or eat, but does wander around the palace.

Description: He has this unusually pale complexion, which separates him from people around him. His eyes are in color of amber (tend to turn reddish when he does something challenging enough), and his hair is black. It's pretty straight and messy, but he almost always wears a black cloak with a big hood, keeping his head almost completely hidden. Under it, he wears dark red, and carries his home bottle somewhere in his numerous pockets.

Personality: cold, cruel, passionate, smart, devious, playful, charming... Everything when he needs to be. During all the years spent among people and working for them, he managed to evolve as many personalities needed - his own wishes, however, never change. He doesn't have faith in people and always relies only on himself. He loves being free, because of all that he can do without asking permission or hearing a wish, but nevertheless he always enjoys a desperate soul with a big wish only he can make true. Now, when he can, he does take pleasure in watching the person die in belief Sati will actually do what was asked of him.
He is particularly fond of plants and scorpions, and for some reason he can't stand almost all other animals. Sometimes he gets very sad, especially in the nights when he sits far up on the walls and roofs of the town, wondering if anyone will ever ask him what he wishes for.
His powers are his greatest strength, but also are a sort of weakness. He can pretty much do anything, but he's sort of addictive to people's wishes (in a way, he feeds on their desires and his abilities are stronger when he does things for someone else) and he can't go long without using his magic (in that case, he'd go back to his bottle and become prisoner again). He also likes asking for favors in return, especially since he met the demons of Northern Europe and picked up a few tricks.

History: Being released by a reckless master, some fifty years ago or so, he's traveled the world around, trying to find someone he could willingly help to fulfill wishes. When he only found people hungry for power or hungry for food because of those hungry for power, Sati decided to come back to his home, find a way to release others of his kind and begin the new world order. Ironically, in that quest of his, he'll most likely have to work with the same kind of people he wanted to change the world in the first place.

Other: he can get associated with anyone, even more than one person at the time. He may think of them as masters, but will never call them so.

Up for love: Yes (though he doubts anyone could ever want it)

Name: Mortuiestis (Latin for "You are dead")
His name is more of a "stage" name, as you wouldn't name your kid you are dead. Can just say Mori, or however you feel like abbreviating it when you post it.

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Role: Assassin (Freelancer, has no ties to anyone)

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:D

Description: Mortuiestis is a handsom man. He has short cropped brown hair, and carefully kept stubble covering most of his face. He has piercing blue eyes with cut cheek bones and a cut brow. Mortuiestis is not a large man. He stand around 5'7, 150 pounds. When he is on the job, he wears a black cloak, see image below, and no shoes.

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(Ignore all but the clothes in this picture)

Personality: Mortuiestis has one morale he lives by. Get it done and get paid. Mysterious, he hides his past from all but himself. He has attachments to nobody, and although he may work for a prince from time to time, he would as easily slip a knife in his back. If the price is right. If he doesn't get paid, well, you better pay him. That's all you need to know. It may seem strange for a man like him, but he cares for his appearance. Laid back, when he isn't working, he enjoys just lounging and enjoying the finer things in life.

Strengths: Expert weapon handler, has unmatched skills except by maybe the best. Cunning, a good planner. Knows how to fight hand to hand, or just how to kill you with his hands (or yours )

Weaknesses: Doesn't know magic, and hates magicians. Wears no armor, so vulnerable to ambushes or ranged attacks.

History: Over the years, Mortuiestis has been training with weapons. He began his self training when he was 8, with a simple knife. He has expanded his horizon, and can wield almost any weapon with expertise. Started as an assassin when he was 16. Has risen over and above, and is the best assassin in all of Saria. People know his name. People fear him. In his 10 years of being an assassin, he has never failed once. He has done work within the royal family before, and there are rumors circling that he was hired to kill the king. He'll work for anyone, kill anyone, as long as he gets paid. If you can even find him.

Other: Weapons array (Always on him): Knife, small vial of poison, throwing knives (Around 6),
short sword.

Up for love: What the hell, why not.

Name: Adina (her last name is just one of her guarded secrets)

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Role: Handmaiden to Minnah

Description: Though born in Saria, Adina isn't a native. She's actually from pretty far West, though it was several generations back. Her skin has inherited the ability to tan, while her hair has somehow managed to turn out the pale yellow of cornsilk. Her eyes are a dark green, easily mistaken for brown, and she's always careful to dye her exotic hair, frightened that as a slave someone would exert their authority to take liberties with her. When her hair is it's natural color she looks a bit like

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and when her hair is dyed, it looks like

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Personality: Independent and strong willed, Adina is hardly the type of person you would expect to find a slave, and despite her captivity has managed to remain herself all her life. She hates to be assisted, no matter how hard a task may be, and will do anything to keep from being belittled. Somehow she has managed to remain a rather proud person with little regard for what others think of her. She can be both subservient and tenacious depending on the situation. She has a strong mothering instinct she tries very hard to hide

Strengths: Strong and tenacious, she's stubbornly independent to a fault, and can take care of herself, thank you very much. She's smart, and secretly very gentle, though mostly to children or the elderly. Thankfully she has managed to learn how to hold back her impulses to insult, or strike out at her masters, which is perhaps her greatest strength: Self control.

Weaknesses: Where do I start? She's proud, she's far too stubborn for her own good. She's sometimes a bit overconfident. She's angry. The list goes on and on. She has a short temper, and easily is set off.

History: Adina was born into slavery, her mother being a dancing slave, and her father the slave of a weaver. She has two little sisters, and growing up was a happy time. The family was owned by one man, who was understanding of their situation and neither took advantage of her mother, nor sold anyone. When she was fourteen he died of old age, and the threat of splitting her family was impending, and terrifying. Nobody could say if they would stay near each other, or end up on opposite sides of the world.
The solution was simple: to escape. The family waited for the nearest new moon, making preparations in secret, until the night arrived that they would slip out of the city and leave for someplace they could be together happily.
When it did arrive, the family slipped out of their home and made their escape. They escaped through the city without much trouble, having chosen to go in the wee hours of the morning rather than late at night. Just as the sun was rising they were reaching the walls of the city, and the family one by one went over.
The youngest in the family, a child of only six, was so tired by that time that she simply couldn't pull herself over, and Adina quickly climbed back down to her and carried her over, not at all willing to lose a single member of her family to the men who were bound to be chasing them by now.
She got her little sister over the wall and passed to her father, right as their pursuers caught up, and was dragged back down the wall.
Her family somehow managed to escape notice, she may never know how, and after attempting to beat out of her their destination, her captors gave up in disgust. She was, of course, punished for her attempted escape, and double because of her frustrating closed mouth. The scars on her back are her greatest secret, because she will never tell a soul how she got them.
After her almost escape she was passed from master to master, never with one for long because of her absolute refusal to be taken advantage of, and her sharp tongue.
She came to Kassim, then later Farid, who gave her to his mother, and that's where she hopes to stay, where the masters are kind and there's safety.

Other: She has a minor obsession with hair

Up for love: Go for it

Illegitament Princess? Heck, why not? I'll take a spot, please.

*superglee*

Name: Saja

Age: 14

Gender: Female

Role: Princess of Saria, youngest of the kings children

Description: Saja has a pale honey complexion is due to her being rarely aloud outside. Her long dark silky hair reaches her waist and has a slight wave to it. Saja's eyes are her most striking feature, they are unusually large and a bright liquid green/gray. Her face is still that of a child with full cheeks and snub nose, although her body is developed for her age- she promises to be quite a lovely woman when given the chance.

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Personality: Saja is in a word innocent. Rarely let out of her fathers sight she has been extremely sheltered- Emeer used to say she was the only pure thing in his life. Saja sees the world through a rose colored glass, the world is a happy safe place in her mind.... or she did. Saja is painfully shy and afraid of the world outside the palace. She lives in her own world of fancy, with her books and her own lively imagination. She has no friends beyond those she creates and is very lonely. She craves love an safety and since her fathers death she has found little of either.



Weaknesses: Saja's greatest weakness is her vulnerability- with the king dead Saja has no one to protect her now, and as the queen and her sons hate her she is at their mercy. Her shyness and trusting nature are a very dangerous handicap in a family of back stabbing and mind games. And her innocence leaves her vulnerable to all sorts of attacks.

Strengths: Just as it is her weakness her innocence is also her greatest strength. It is the one thing she has that all her siblings don't. She has no preconceptions of life or those around her, she has nothing to give her false ideas about situations. She also is a great deal cleverer then her brothers gives her credit for, she might even be cleverer then them...

History: Saja is the youngest daughter of King Emeer. Saja's mother was very the very young maid to the queen when she caught the kings eye and she was quickly seduced by his charms and flattery, when the queen found out about the couple she was enraged, and when she realized that her maid was carrying the kings child her fury knew no limit.

Saja's mother died from birthing fever only days after her little girl was born and the king all but forgot he had a child by the maid until his lover Morgiana reminded him of it. Emeer for lack of anything better to do- it being a rainy day- went to see the little babe. No one knows what happened in that poor little servants chamber, but the king later came out carrying the child- something no one expected, she was only a bastard child of a serving girl after all. But Emeer loved her and made her a princess as if she were a proper born daughter of his and not a bastard.

Emeer doted on Saja as she grew up- saying she was the only pure thing in his life. He was rarely seen without the little girl clinging to his hand or trailing behind him. She sat in his lap during councils and quietly listened to meetings with heads of state sitting in her little corner of his study. Emeer didn't like the little girl out of his sight and protected her as fearsomely as a savage beast of the wild protects its tender cubs. He taught her, her letters himself and read stories to her by the hour curled up on the cushions of her nursery. Saja was her fathers little doll and plaything, an she basked in the safety and love he gave her, feeling perfectly content and trusting him completely.

As Saja grew up Emeer wanted to make sure his little doll was protected when he did finally pass, so secretly- without the knowledge of his sons, or even of his councils he began looking the west over, for a prince or king to give his little daughter too. He finally made a betrothal pact with the Ruler of Rapugypt for Saja to marry his son, the boy only three years older then the princess. The two young people began exchanging letters almost at the same time. Saja longed for each letter, for in his letters the Rapugyptian prince told of of a world outside her own. A world not bound by rooms or high garden walls. It almost seemed like a fairy tale to the shut up little princess and she couldn't seem to write him back fast enough.

For two years the letters passed back and forth between the two young people until she was told in one of her letters that he would be coming to her fathers birthday celebration and that she would finally see the face of boy she had begun to fall in love with- but he didn't come, she waited all that night of the party, but he didn't come- tearfully she fled to her bed as soon as she could and cried herself to sleep- thinking it was all some cruel joke, he had changed his mind about wanting to meet her, or worse he had died on the long hard journey.


Other: Saja loves birds and their musical voices and is often to be found in her chambers singing along with them as she reads, plays with her many toys of games, draws or writes letters.

Up for love: Sort of, she is very young still and it betrothed to a prince, but she is a hopeless romantic just waiting to be swept off her feet in her own happily ever after story.

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Name: Seth (Or to his family Seti)

Age: 17

Gender: Male- this ones all boy.

Role: Crown prince of Rapugypt, guardian of the forbidden oasis and rascal extraordinaire

Description: Tall and lanky are the best words to describe this bean pole of a boy. He's over 6'4” but he's skinny as a rail so it makes him seem taller. His hair is a wild mess of black waves that stick up all over his head and give the impression that a cat groomed him. His bright black eyes are keen as a daggers edge but full of mirth and show the merry heart within. He wears the typical clothing of the men of his country- or lack there off. He is often shirtless an seems allergic to shirts of any kind- they make him itch he claims. His darkly tanned skin has a boys usual allotment of scars and old “war” wounds but on his left hipbone- just barley visible above his bottoms is the top of a small tattoo- the black form of a horse- a fertility Symbol of his people most boys get when they reach puberty.

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but on his left hip bone.

Personality: Seth is a merry soul at heart. A boy who loves to laugh and see those around him smile. But even so there is a man below the smiles and mischief that is a true warrior and leader. Seth knows his duty and does it faithfully in spite of his devilish tendencies. He is very honor bound and strictly lives by his warrior and princely codes. He is a gentle spirit deep down and good natured almost to a fault. He has a hot wild temper when angered but a long fuse which is a blessing. He is the kind of person who can talk to anybody and makes friends easily- he can converse with a king as well as a pauper and make friends of them both. He's easy to get along with and always up for a bit of fun. He has a reckless streak in him a mile wide and is known for throwing himself at danger without thinking about the risk. He's loyal to those he considers his friends an would gladly lay down his life upholding what he believes it right.

Weaknesses: Seths light heartednss can get him into trouble, and his cockiness and confidence sometimes outruns reality. He is VERY Dyslexic so that can be a challenge for him and he is terribly forgetful- the kind of person five minutes after meeting you has completely forgotten your name.

Strengths: His strong backbone and moral compass have yet to steer him wrong and if something feels wrong he won't do it. Will flat out refuse. His courage to face fear grinning and his gentle heart are strengths that Seth has relied on even in his short life many a time. Like all His countrymen Seth has a gift with horses that surpasses any other peoples- some in his homeland even say he has the gift to converse with the beasts. Seth lives, breaths and loves horses- they are his passion, his hobby and his gift. His other strength is his ability to empathize with nearly everyone he comes into contact with, he is frighteningly good at reading a person almost instantly.

History: Seth was born to the current King (or Pharo) of Rapugypt an his Queen. As the eldest he is crown prince. He had a normal childhood for a prince, had many tutors- played hooky far to much, got hidings by his father and ran away two or three times and somehow managed to come out on the other side a reasonably refined Royal specimen.

At fifteen his father made a betrothal pact with King Emeer od Saria for his daughter to marry Seth, and starting then- on the urges of Seths mother the young prince and princess began exchanging letters back and forth. For two years they wrote one another constantly- Seth telling her of his adventures and life in Rapugypt and Saja telling Seth all about her world of fancy and the stories she's write him along with the letters of her daily life. Seth was enchanted by the childlike princess and he often read her stories she sent over and over. Her fantastical imagination and gifts of writing kept the rascally boys attention like nothing else ever could. He considers her a friend now, and isn't opposed to wedding her, thinking that if they don't love one another now- they will learn to do it soon after.


Other: Seth has an insatiable sweet tooth and has the appetite of a horse- though to look at him you'd never guess. He has a distrust for the number two and likes Mornings more the evenings. He has a tendency to pick at an ever present scab on his right elbow when he's deep in thought, and he blushes easily.

Up for love: Yes and no, he's straight as an arrow and as most seventeen year old boys he is a mess of testosterone- but he's betrothed to the princess, but you never know.

Name: Zia, but also goes by a stage name of ‘Basil Rose’

Age: She’s actually 20, but she’ll act up to 25 when it serves her. She doesn’t care about age.

Gender: Female.

Role: She’s a daughter of one of the King’s wives, but he wasn’t the one who donated her other X chromosome, if you get what I mean. Serves as Princess, but since others are skeptical of her actual claim, she sneaks out and sings to the locals, sometimes helping her favorite thieves smuggle things across- when it is interesting or serves her, of course.

Description: Zina has dark eyes and fairly straight ark brown hair- she likes to keep it right under her shoulder blades. As far as stuff you can't see goes, she is a very curvy young woman standing at about 5'5-5'6. She prefers comfortable forms of dress, and does not wear much jewelry.



Personality: Princess Zia is a modest young woman and a wonderful speaker; she has a way of winning people over. She’s confident within appropriate limits. One could get the feel she is bound and restricted, but she can easily talk you right out of it. Zia is witty and intelligent, but will go out of her way to beat you. She is very casual around people, but shows kindness to her littlest sister, Saja. Seems to dislike other Princesses.

Zia is more quiet- just as confident, but more secretive. Will barter to get what she wants, but doesn’t like to lie. She is adrift in her own world, but when focused she is force to deal with. Zia is easily annoyed, and dislikes her other ‘siblings’- besides Saja, if mostly because she’s another mistake. She finds herself attached to the girl; and will protect her, as long as the costs aren’t going to kill her. She craves information and knowledge, and likes to sing.

Basil Rose is her name when she is out and about- named after to plants her mother hasn’t seen in ages. Basil is everything Princess Zia and Zia aren’t on their own; she sings in public, plays favor with thieves, and lives life like she could die any minute. Basil Rose is more sly, and much more flirtatious- and much less modest. Lives for fun.

Strengths: Zia is determined, and stubborn as an Ox. Her speaking skills can get her in and out of situation- useful, as it seems she has connections everywhere. Her wit and intelligence can carry her far enough; and she knows how to barter to get what she wants and how. Has kindness, but not too much.

Weakness: She thinks her attachment to Saja is, and her burning hatred towards her other sisters. She wants to maintain both lifestyles, and she finds herself playing with matches; it would be easy to lose her to flame. Confidence in her inability to loose; and her sensitivity to the subject of her birth, along her easy-to-annoy vulnerable state.

History: Zia’s mother is from a land where rivers flow, a third daughter offered up by her father in eagerness to get in on the market, Lila was never going to be a favorite. Emeer did not love her; and after a stale birth, he shunned her. Lila was eager for love, and beautiful. Someone- namely a Foreign Officer- took advantage of that.

Emeer was skeptical of his fathership of the new Princess; but he loses track among his wives- he accepted the Princess, although others didn’t. Zia did not get much education as the other children- the scholar thought her a bastard, and refused to educate her as much as she willed him to. She grew up jealous.

When she turned sixteen, she found her freedom. The guards had drunken cards on Fridays, and the ones who remained on post didn’t mind letting the ‘Bastard Princess’ go into town. She explored the city around her before hearing a singer in front of a bar; she knew then what she wanted to do. She made up a name and ‘borrows’ some clothes, going out on Friday nights to be someone with the riches and the freedom at the same time.

Other: Has a lovely singing voice, and may play the ‘illegitimate’ card if she has to; to win favor of her ‘brothers’ or as its own barter- but not without a high price. Emeer told her she had a betrothed, but neither she nor her mother believed him.

Up for love: She’s fascinated with the idea, but she believes in playthings and being played with; she may pursue a chance for a change of mind.

Name: Amir, actually named after his father (ooc: It got very confusing very fast, so I used a variant spelling)

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Role: “Crown” prince (in his mind anyway)

Description: Out of all Emeer's sons, Amir is the one that looks most like his father: with tan skin, sharp features, and red brown hair, although his has a tendency to curl and his eyes are lighter. He’s 5’11 and muscular with it. He cleans up well, but quickly becomes ragged when left to his own devices. He thinks more than the most basic of personal groping is a waste of time.

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Personality: Amir is not naturally cruel. He just doesn’t have the imagination to escape his upbringing. He was brought up to think he was better than everyone else, and allowed to take what he wants, and he’s embraced that philosophy. He’s a womanizer even worse than his father, not to mention controlling, demanding, arrogant, and not that bright. He thinks he’s clever though which makes him particularly susceptible to manipulation, especially when paired with his horrible temper. He’s actually probably the least prepared to take the throne of any of his siblings. This does not stop him from being extremely bitter about never being formally named heir.

History: Amir was born in a rare position of favour, being the firstborn and namesake of the king by his head wife. He was given everything deemed appropriate for his station, and did not require the “toughening up” that the other princes did. He didn’t even seem to mind that his mother spent more time doting on his younger brothers.
But then he was usurped: first by the illegitimate female Saja and then by the so0called Prince of Thieves. He’s spent the years since then thirsting for the day he can finally take the throne, anywhere of how unprepared he is to do so, and that he might be considered an obstacle by those he trusts most.

Other: Is a particular favour of the “regular” citizens of Saria for some reason.

Up for love: Yes

Greetings!

So, I know some of you are away for a bit/don't get on as obsessively as I do, but I kind of would like to get the ball rolling before we lose momentum. So Shadowlight has vollunteered to start us of sometime tonight. Once she posts, we are officially begun!

I know we are still missing some profiles, but thats completly fine. I don't intend to close the sb so (here's hoping) newcharacters will pop up all the time.

Cheers!

Hiiii! Sorry it's so late!

Name: Syeira Catarina (surname withheld)

Age: 21

Gender: F

Role: Traveling Gypsy: dancer, fortune teller, healer

Description: Syeira’s long brown hair aren’t anything new for people, but the dyed tips certainly sets her apart from the rest. She has piercing yellow-green eyes that can draw a person with ease. She tends to wear lots of fabric, her skirts layered and darkly colored. Her sash possesses dangling coins that clink together with every move. Syeira also wears a fitted top which has sleeves which start below the shoulders, revealing neck, chest, and shoulders. Her color scheme, if one were to imagine she had one, would typically be of dark reds and purples with decorative gold.

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Personality: Syeira can dance, quite plainly. She is incredibly flexible and of small stature. At the same time, her petite size allows for fast getaways if she ever needed to run. (She’s poor. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.) At the same time, she is incredibly intuitive and understands the human body without having to open a book on it.

She’s the quiet-but-deadly type, living one day at a time for the sake of survival. She doesn’t stay in one place, but she doesn’t want to either. She prefers moving around constantly and living in different settings from time to time, revisiting the ones she loves.

When it comes down to it, she will speak, but her voice is known to lull the men into a dreamy state. Her hypnotic abilities give her what she wants very easily -- though magicians are next to impossible to manipulate, depending on their training levels. This means she’s cocky at best, and anyone she can’t work with only makes life that more interesting for her. In the end, she’s going to win, even if the other person thinks they got the better end of the bargain.

History: There isn’t much history she’s willing to share. All that’s needed to know is that she travels! She’s never in one place for long, and few people can convince her to stay longer than she intends.

She did, however, grow up in the underground with her mother’s gypsy colony. Much of what she knows was learned below.

When it comes to earning money, she dances, tells fortune, and occasionally heals people (the latter only happens if she gets something in return -- healing is just that profitable).

Other: Her magic! The deets:

Dancing: She can manipulate people just by her charm, though magic is typically used anyway for good measure (plus, it’s just pure fun). While she can also use her flirting to manage this magic, dance is much more easily expressed. Basically, she can manipulate a person’s feelings and thoughts with her ~smooth moves~

Fortune Telling: This is done with her born-knowledge of the human body. Usually palm-reading, but she can also detect the person’s aura to help conjur an accurate fortune that they’ll believe. 75% of the time, they’re accurate anyway -- you just have to phrase it right -- but it’s completely for marketing purposes. And stalker purposes, but she’s nosey.

Healing: Though it requires physical contact to perform, as well as incredible concentration, she can heal wounds and illnesses. Her mother has taught her a great amount of herbs and potions, so she can usually whip something up there as well. However, it is important to note she will not use this magic unless she gets something in return. It’s an excellent bribe for her to use, but in order for it to stay an effective bribe, she needs to use it as one.

Yeah, she’s smart.

Up for love: Yup!

You're just in time actually! Love her!

Princess Saja/ Palace, early morning:

Saja awoke earlier then usual, the sun wasn't even peeking over the horizon, turning the sky a pale pink and lavender color. It was going to be a glorious sunrise, but Saja didn't see it, her head ached, her stomach ached and her feet ached. She mewled and curled back into her silken sheets, dozen soft dove-down pillows and groaned. She didn't want to get up, but the pounding in her head drove away the soft dreams, so she sat up and slipped out of bed.

Her hound Isissa watched her young mistress as she crossed the room- she was a milky white lion-hound and was a present from the girls Father two years ago. The only other creature he said that protected his treasure like himself. Saja went to her Vanity table and opening a drawer pulled from it a small vial and let three drops of this fall into a goblet of water before draining it. She was prone to head ailments and always kept medicine to ease them on hand. Once taken she slipped back to her bed- fully intent on sleep, she had stayed up most of the night at her fathers birthday- dancing and feasting and waiting and had gotten to bed only a few hours ago, but she could not sleep. Tried as she could she could not fall back into her soft dreams.

The sun was beginning to rise when she gave up and putting on a robe over her floaty night dress she slipped across the hall to her fathers chambers, he was always a early riser, and even if he wasn't awake Saja would just crawl into his large bed and hopefully fall back asleep, like she often did as a child, and as she often still did when something upset or frighten her.

Emeers room was dark, all the heavy velvet drapes were drawn closed and the room had a musty smell- old wine, books and that smell that was only her fathers- something akin to insense smoke- an of combination of scents but ones that were comforting to little Saja. She padded across his large bedroom towards her fathers four poster bed, bare feet making no noise on the thick carpet.

“Papa?” she whispered softly to the dark lump in the bed, “Papa? Are you awake?” -no response, so he was still sleeping. Saja smiled and walking around the bed climbed in the other side and curled up- her eyes already seeming heavy. She snuggled closer and her hand touched something wet- she frowned and felt the sheets- they too were wet, Had her father spilled a glass of wine in his bed again? She sniffed her fingers, it wasn't wine.... but whatever it was, was sticky and had a strange smell.

Saja sat up quickly- the wetness had creeped into her nightdress now- there was a lot of it, it was making it cling to her in places.

“Papa? Papa wake up.” She said shaking him lightly- her father who was usually so light a sleeper made no movement, he barely seemed to breath in his heavy sleep. “Papa! Papa wake up!” she shook harder, Emeer seemed strangely limp and Saja grew frightened. “Papa! Papa!?” she shook harder and harder.

Saja could barely make out her father in the dark room, she scrambled from the bed- wet nightdress clinging to her legs and ran to the window. Throwing the heavy brocade curtains back she flooded the room with early morning sunlight. Turning back to the bed she stopped dead and let out a otherworldly scream.


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Prince Farid/Palace, early morning:

Farid stood in the doorway of the kings room in a stunned silence, he had been roused from his bed in the Guards Barracks at an ungodly early hour, and nothing the man said had prepared him for what he now saw.

Saja, favorite of his father, was screaming and wailing like a possessed creature cradling the bloody corpse of their father. Her nightdress bloodied and her wild dark hair tumbled about her- like a widows black veil.

“Papa! Papa wake up! PLEASE wake up!” The child shrieked over and over, an unnerving reaction that threw Farid for a moment. But it was only a moment, true to form the young Captain regained his composure and strode to the side of the bed.

“Saja.” He tried to make his voice gentle and soothing, “Saja, you must stop this.” And only came across cold and emotionless. He had never been close with her, but he did pity her to see her so distressed, he tried again. “Saja the Ki- Father is dead. He's gone Saja.”

“ He's not dead! He's not! “ She screamed, wild desperation and fury in her large eyes, “He's sleeping! Hes not dead! Papa! Papa!” Farid was getting irritated, he had never handled tears well in the past and now was no exception- the girl was carry on in a ridiculous fashion.

“Saja!” His voice was cold hard and one designed to intimidate. The girl started and shrunk back- clinging to Emeer's cold form. “He is dead, he's been murdered, now stop this immediately.”

Saja swallowed- trying to find some glimmer of gentleness in his dark eyes, some measure of compassion, but saw nothing in their steely depths. And she hated him for it.

“Get her out of here.” He said gruffly to the princess's nurse. “Get her quiet and cleaned up.”

“Y-yes Milord.” But as the woman approached the bed Saja began her wailing- even more hysterical then before.

“No! No you won't! Get away! Don't touch me! Papa! Papa!” Farid had, had enough- Roughly he picked her up in his strong arms, and turning on his heel, bore her from the room screaming. “Stop it! Papa make him stop! Farid! Farid you're hurting me! PAPA!”

None to gently he deposited her on her bed and silently left the room- locking it behind him- turning to a guard he spoke in the dangerously low tone they all knew. “No one goes in except the nurse and Princess Saja does /not/ come out. Is that clear?”

“O-o-of course Highness!” the young man stammered, he was only a palace guard and the ferocity glinting in the prince's eyes would have frightened a far more seasoned man then himself.

Farid rubbing his throbbing temples went back to his fathers chambers, he had work to do and he wasn't looking forward to any of it.

Kassim ~ The Palace

Kassim was rudely awakened long before he had planned to get out of bed. He was nursing a hangover from too much celebrating the night before and was not yet in the mood to welcome intrusions.

“What?” He snarled, wrenching open the door. Making the girl freeze. “What is it?”

“You’re highness….It’s the king.”

“What about him?

“He been killed sir”

This made him pause. It was certainly inconvenient, he wasn’t near ready yet. But he supposed it could have been worse. At the very least this made sure there would be no more chances for father dearest to make things more difficult.
“I see..”

“Sir…” The girl started, but he waved her off before she could finish.

“Never mind. “ He said. “I need to go talk with my brother”

And with that he shut the door in her face and prepared to start the day. He suspected it would be a momentous one.

Amir ~ The Palace

When Amir heard the news, his first thought was to go find his brother. Fortunately it wasn’t that difficult to track him down, since Kassim was already on his way to find him.

“Brother!” He exclaimed, grinning.

“Yes congratulations,” Kassim smiled slightly in return. “But you ought to calm down. Someone’s going to think you did him in.”

“What makes you so sure I didn’t?”

Kassim frowned at this, and Amir felt a small swell of pride. He always liked to shake his younger brothers composure when he could, even if only for a second.

“You wouldn’t be that stupid. Not before you were named heir.”

Amir wilted it bit. It was true that this was going to be a lot more difficult that it should have been, due to father’s games. Kassim continued reassuringly though.

“We’ll get through this though. We only have to keep Farid and the brat from interfering. So long as the girls aren’t married they aren’t really a threat.”

“But what if…”

“Don’t worry” Kassim reapeated, eyes glinting coldy “Nothing is going to stop us.”

Jamelynn (Jamie)

It was impossible to miss the way Prince Farid carried little Princess Saja through the castle, I had to stop mid stride with Prince Kassim's breakfast to keep from being run down. He was scowling, an expression I was beginning to be wary of on the faces of the princes. But what captivated my attention was Princess Saja.

She was screaming, screaming and writhing and carrying on in a way that I found strangely familiar. A wild terror and furious desperation were both coloring her voice and I frowned. I remembered the feeling.

My heart twisted in my chest as I caught a flash of crimson blood, and a familiar ache started up. They lost their father. My heart went out to the child and I wanted to pull her from Farid's arms and hug her close, stroking her hair and murmuring comfortingly like my own father used to. That poor girl.

Then I froze. Saja wasn't the only child of King Emeer, there were more. My own Master was one of his children.

Poor Prince Kassim. He had never been kind to me, but I felt myself regretting every nasty thought I had about him in the few weeks I had been here. He would be suffering too. I had to go tell him, as gently as possible. But how could I gentle a blow like this? My heart went out to him, someone I knew personally and I made my way to his rooms and knocked softly.

He didn't answer at first but I remained persistent, he would want to know right away.

"What?" He snarled, wrenching open the door, and I froze. "What is it?"

I reminded myself that he had stayed up much too late, and was understandable disgruntled about being woken. "Your Highness... It's the King," I told him as respectfully as I could.

"What about him?"

"He's been killed sir."

He paused, and though I didn't see any sadness flash across his face, he was a closed man. It was possible he was hiding it. Oh to have a heart as strong as that. "I see..."

"Sir..." I began, but he waved me off.

"Never mind. I need to go talk with my brother." He then slammed the door in my face and I was left blinking.

Grief did funny things to people.

Prince of Thieves ~ The Thieves Court

Prince surveyed his court with an air of utter boredom. This was one of the few places in while he was relaxed enough to even get bored, and this late in the morning amusement was rather thin on the ground. The crooks could usually be relied on to have plenty of illicit activity going even in the wee hours of the morning, especially then actually, but now as the sun began to stream through the cracks in the walls things had sunk into a lull.

He honoured them with a yawn and unravelled himself from the chair on the dais that he referred to as his thrown. He never sat in it. Perched, slouched, and occasionally slept in it yes, but never just sat. Stretching, he pushed through the curtained doorway and op the stairs to his own quarters.

The building he had claimed was a multi leveled ruin of one of the old palaces, abandoned a couple hundred years ago. It amused him to think his rooms on the top floor were really once royal apartments. Below him was the court itself and various store rooms and hidey-holes.

The two floors closest to the ground were actually empty, with no staircases up, and the “main” entrance was on the side of the building. The original thought regarding this was that if you can’t get into the court, then you had no reason to be there, but Prince had since allowed his people to throw rope ladders down to each other, or get the guard on duty to let you up. This concession was largely for the benefit of the little street rats who used the place more as shelter than a place of business. Prince supposed those children might someday be his most loyal followers, so it balanced out the more useless members he had acquired since then.

He paused on the steps hearing someone follow and turned. No one was supposed to follow him up here, and they knew that.

“I’m sorry your highness,” said the intruder “But there’s been word from the palace Activity there.”

Prince sighed. They were always up to something back there.

“Is it important?”

“If it’s true yes….They say the king has been murdered.”

For a moment Akeem had to fight to keep his bland expression. Father dead? He couldn’t be. They were visiting just yesterday. How could father be dead? And yet his spies would never bring him information like this unless it was assuredly true. And if it was….

He wanted to yell and cry and demand answers, but he couldn’t. The Prince of Thieves didn’t have any family. And he certainly wouldn’t have any personal interest in the demise of a despotic ruler. He had to keep calm. Remain steady.

“Well,” he said after a moment. “Things are about to get a lot more interesting.”