EU3 DW, Default settings, Aiming for Jihaad Achievement (oh, really?)
He was having doubts.
The sunset was marking end of the day in desert colouring endless dunes into shade of red. There were no signs of life except for a lone figure watching horizon thoughtfully.
He couldnt help, but wonder again how family, his clan, his tribe are doing. It was almost 10 months since that cursed day when his enjoyable hunting trip turned into a bad dream come true. First his small truppe got ambushed and scattered by desert bandits, wounding him in process then hars desert strom almost claimed his life. It was only by God's grace that he was found and healed by and desert hermit who... that was it actually.
He still has no idea who that man really was. On a surface, he was yet another desert goat herder. Maybe a bit hermit too. He sure was wise and religious one.
Probably hermit, he decided; for which herder meditated and prayed so vigorously?
But there always was that nagging feeling, that he was more than that. First of all, by all he has seen in his warriors life, he should be dead now by all rights. Yet the hermit managed not only to save his life, but as far as he could tell, there were no permanent damage to his hand aside from a big angry-red scar - and it has been almost severed in fight.
None of that mattered - soon he will finally return to his rightful place amongst his Tribe.
He has been feeling physically fit to return for almost a week now; yet he was honour-bound by debt of Life to this strange hermit and his even more so strange request.
For ir was strange indeed - instead of wishing for gold, camels, horses, wifes, slaves or water for saving the Sheik's life, he opted for Sheik spending exactly 1 more week with him debating matters of religion, state, politics, military and philosophy.
This was the last night of that week and instead of another interesting but pointless intelectual excercise, hermit send him to this place requsting he spends a night meditating and praying here.
He was feeling doubts. He doubted hermit, his strange request, but above all he dobuted himself - his doubt drawing pictures of treachery and chaos upon the imagined scene of his return to his Clan..
Well, at least it will be over soon. He shugged off thought of hermit, his clan and impending return, suppressed the feeling of sand beneath him and cold night rush of wind around him and sank deeply into meditation...
Hours later, scenery hasnt changed. Lone motionless figure sitting, meditating in the dark atop a sand dune. Then, after what seemed to be an eternity, there was subtle change.
It was almost as silent buildup before a great storm erupting, but with unquantifable quality of suspension unlike anything on Earth.
Then after the suspension has reached almost physical quality his conciousness was suddenly flooded with imagery, ideas and sounds; confusingly mixed in strange contexts and contents. Then in a blink of a time, sudden darkness.
Lone, menacing darkness that seemed to grow and consume him by every second. When it almost reached a point that would left him a broken husk of man filled with irrational fear, a spark of warm light appeared. As it rapidly grew, closing in on him he felt an onset of calm and tranquillity, drowning all his fears and doubts..
Then in the light, something moved. As he focused on the warm light, the movement grow into colours, colours into pictures and then a vision absorbed him.
He could saw his Sheikdom as if flying above it on eagle wings, the magnificient desert and mountains, the brilliant blue of coastal ocean and the green swathes of arable land. But he could see and feel so much more. He could also sense people and more subtle thinkg. It was almost...God-like.
He saw himself, gloriously returning among his people from his desert Odyssey, finding his unexpected infant son and trustful advisors in charge at home. He could see himself inspiring his Tribe with glorious vision, his faithful people raising army from the desert, riding and sowing fear into their enemies' hearts.
He could see years run by, as his Sheikdom absorbed its ancient rivals and neigbours. And as all seemed glorious and perfect, the dark cloud has arison over his sheikdom.
He could see his adolescent son, a promising leader and politician preparing for his duty. But his face covered by dark shadow as was his Sheikdom. All progress came to an abrubt halt, people despaired, culture and all life just stagnated.
Then he could see the cause: it was HIMSELF. He could see his own face, cast in a strange, dark look. He could see himself abusing his faithfull servants and subjects, giving strange orders and dragging all his people into doom. At his side there were people from conquered tribes, whisperin poisoning words into his ears.
Just as an feeling of despair seemed to overwhelm him, his vision suddenly darkened.
He was alone, sitting in dark on a sand dune. As he fought the confusion of sudden transformation, darkness was suddenly pierced by blinding light. As he finally adjusted his eyes, he couldnt believe his own eyes:
There it was, just as he heard him described in Quaran, the Holy Spirit, the archanjel Gabriel, Peace be upon him in his true form. Six hundred brilliant wing spawning from his back, each covering the horizon, adjorned with gemstones of astonishing beauty.
Then His voice thundered:
"I am the Voice of God, the One that brought Quaran to the mankind and the One that accompanied Muhammad in his ascension to the heavens, and I am bringing you the will of thy God.
What you have just seen, was your future without the true God. You are destined to be a great leader and conquerer, but without embracing the God, your future and future of your tribe will be dark and hopeless.
Embrace the God and he will make you and your Clan his Holy Tool upon Earth, freeing all your oppressed Muslim brothers and bringing the only true Religion to the world. You will not be alone in this most Holy task; His servants will be awaiting you at home as your advisors and executors of your and His will. Now go and make the Gods Caliphate upon Earth so that all humankind may rejoice forever!"
Disclaimer:
I never ever written any AAR, im not sure i ever will, this may be or may not be the only stuff i write - i just had this idea and seemed like fun to post(well, maybe it wasnt)
Hope at least one person will not consider it wasted time & effort, so that whole exercise will make at least a bit sense
I am not of any Theism and above is freely based upon my admitingly poor knowledge of Quaran and Islam. I hope im not offending anyone
Also, this is basically story heavy intro to my restarted Nahj game (as you've maybe guessed, the 'dark' vision was my first attempt, the 'Holy Intervention' my rethinking of strategy and the rest is just a setup for my new campaign)
He was having doubts.
The sunset was marking end of the day in desert colouring endless dunes into shade of red. There were no signs of life except for a lone figure watching horizon thoughtfully.
He couldnt help, but wonder again how family, his clan, his tribe are doing. It was almost 10 months since that cursed day when his enjoyable hunting trip turned into a bad dream come true. First his small truppe got ambushed and scattered by desert bandits, wounding him in process then hars desert strom almost claimed his life. It was only by God's grace that he was found and healed by and desert hermit who... that was it actually.
He still has no idea who that man really was. On a surface, he was yet another desert goat herder. Maybe a bit hermit too. He sure was wise and religious one.
Probably hermit, he decided; for which herder meditated and prayed so vigorously?
But there always was that nagging feeling, that he was more than that. First of all, by all he has seen in his warriors life, he should be dead now by all rights. Yet the hermit managed not only to save his life, but as far as he could tell, there were no permanent damage to his hand aside from a big angry-red scar - and it has been almost severed in fight.
None of that mattered - soon he will finally return to his rightful place amongst his Tribe.
He has been feeling physically fit to return for almost a week now; yet he was honour-bound by debt of Life to this strange hermit and his even more so strange request.
For ir was strange indeed - instead of wishing for gold, camels, horses, wifes, slaves or water for saving the Sheik's life, he opted for Sheik spending exactly 1 more week with him debating matters of religion, state, politics, military and philosophy.
This was the last night of that week and instead of another interesting but pointless intelectual excercise, hermit send him to this place requsting he spends a night meditating and praying here.
He was feeling doubts. He doubted hermit, his strange request, but above all he dobuted himself - his doubt drawing pictures of treachery and chaos upon the imagined scene of his return to his Clan..
Well, at least it will be over soon. He shugged off thought of hermit, his clan and impending return, suppressed the feeling of sand beneath him and cold night rush of wind around him and sank deeply into meditation...
Hours later, scenery hasnt changed. Lone motionless figure sitting, meditating in the dark atop a sand dune. Then, after what seemed to be an eternity, there was subtle change.
It was almost as silent buildup before a great storm erupting, but with unquantifable quality of suspension unlike anything on Earth.
Then after the suspension has reached almost physical quality his conciousness was suddenly flooded with imagery, ideas and sounds; confusingly mixed in strange contexts and contents. Then in a blink of a time, sudden darkness.
Lone, menacing darkness that seemed to grow and consume him by every second. When it almost reached a point that would left him a broken husk of man filled with irrational fear, a spark of warm light appeared. As it rapidly grew, closing in on him he felt an onset of calm and tranquillity, drowning all his fears and doubts..
Then in the light, something moved. As he focused on the warm light, the movement grow into colours, colours into pictures and then a vision absorbed him.
He could saw his Sheikdom as if flying above it on eagle wings, the magnificient desert and mountains, the brilliant blue of coastal ocean and the green swathes of arable land. But he could see and feel so much more. He could also sense people and more subtle thinkg. It was almost...God-like.
He saw himself, gloriously returning among his people from his desert Odyssey, finding his unexpected infant son and trustful advisors in charge at home. He could see himself inspiring his Tribe with glorious vision, his faithful people raising army from the desert, riding and sowing fear into their enemies' hearts.
He could see years run by, as his Sheikdom absorbed its ancient rivals and neigbours. And as all seemed glorious and perfect, the dark cloud has arison over his sheikdom.
He could see his adolescent son, a promising leader and politician preparing for his duty. But his face covered by dark shadow as was his Sheikdom. All progress came to an abrubt halt, people despaired, culture and all life just stagnated.
Then he could see the cause: it was HIMSELF. He could see his own face, cast in a strange, dark look. He could see himself abusing his faithfull servants and subjects, giving strange orders and dragging all his people into doom. At his side there were people from conquered tribes, whisperin poisoning words into his ears.
Just as an feeling of despair seemed to overwhelm him, his vision suddenly darkened.
He was alone, sitting in dark on a sand dune. As he fought the confusion of sudden transformation, darkness was suddenly pierced by blinding light. As he finally adjusted his eyes, he couldnt believe his own eyes:
There it was, just as he heard him described in Quaran, the Holy Spirit, the archanjel Gabriel, Peace be upon him in his true form. Six hundred brilliant wing spawning from his back, each covering the horizon, adjorned with gemstones of astonishing beauty.
Then His voice thundered:
"I am the Voice of God, the One that brought Quaran to the mankind and the One that accompanied Muhammad in his ascension to the heavens, and I am bringing you the will of thy God.
What you have just seen, was your future without the true God. You are destined to be a great leader and conquerer, but without embracing the God, your future and future of your tribe will be dark and hopeless.
Embrace the God and he will make you and your Clan his Holy Tool upon Earth, freeing all your oppressed Muslim brothers and bringing the only true Religion to the world. You will not be alone in this most Holy task; His servants will be awaiting you at home as your advisors and executors of your and His will. Now go and make the Gods Caliphate upon Earth so that all humankind may rejoice forever!"
Disclaimer:
I never ever written any AAR, im not sure i ever will, this may be or may not be the only stuff i write - i just had this idea and seemed like fun to post(well, maybe it wasnt)
Hope at least one person will not consider it wasted time & effort, so that whole exercise will make at least a bit sense
I am not of any Theism and above is freely based upon my admitingly poor knowledge of Quaran and Islam. I hope im not offending anyone
Also, this is basically story heavy intro to my restarted Nahj game (as you've maybe guessed, the 'dark' vision was my first attempt, the 'Holy Intervention' my rethinking of strategy and the rest is just a setup for my new campaign)
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