Ye Allah Al-Akhbar Tournement for the noble. Egypt

[N Katsyev]

The Tipping​

​

After so many years in the damp wildernesses and swamps of the colonies, Nikolai Eevanivitch was having a difficult time already in coping with the general dryness of this land. Though it was green and seemingly fertile, it was obviously only this way because of the river nearby. Without this, this land would be nearly as drab and dirty as its people generally seemed to be. Nikolai had never seen so many with their teeth worn down so from lifetimes of imbibing omnipresent sand. Their skin was dark and leathery, wrinkled from the sun's never-ending assault. It gave them a sort of dignity indeed, but it was far from the ideals of beauty back home - not that he wasn't pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Lady Zomoroda, but then again, she was greek or so he had heard.

Shifting in his saddle and weighing his spear on his wrist, he awaited his final run at the rings with the other two competitors. Regardless of her apprearance she was the single most important reason he was in this cursed sun-baked land, and it was due to her faith, the souls of her people not for any personal romantic visions. Nikolai was generally surprised and somewhat dissapointed by firstly the few number of people taking place in the tipping and the general lack of skill in those who did. There were after all only two finalists.

The Bavarian took his run first and scored a decent 11 rings. It was then to be Nikolai's turn, the heat was beginning to wear on him under his armour and he would be glad when this was over. Whether he won the competition or not, he would gain the Lady's attention and that was all that mattered. The sun caught the metal of his armour, adorned as it was by master metal smiths in Pskova with various holy icons of the Russian church. The moment quickly passed however and he dug in his heels...

It was fifteen, a respectable score without doubt. Not great, but gave him a decent chance for victory. Alas, this was not to be. Sir Richard, having made his run at the same time had picked up a perfect twenty. Nikolai paid his respect to the Dutchman with a salute of his spear, then turned toward the spectators and saluted the Lady Zomoroda in similiar style while also bowing his head respectfully. Nikolai Eevanivitch dismounted and began removing his armour with the aide of his pages, soon, thankfully it was time to return to the north camp, to seek shade and water...

 

[Mettermrck]

It was all he could not to stifle a yawn. Three knights tipping for the favor of two ladies. They were attractive enough, for certes, yet with guards begging to slice Christian heads from torsos at the slightest indiscretion, it was safer by far to observe from the sidelines. All in all, it was not the most exciting of days, and perhaps a tiresome beginning to the tournament. So far, it was no different than those in Christian Europe, except perhaps for the stern warnings.

As the crowd dispersed from the tipping ground, talking excitedly in what Álvaro knew to be false tones, he sat on a rock near the tournament field, idly flipping rocks along the grass, finding more enjoyment in the passing breeze than he did in the day's festivities.

 

[unmerged(31994)]

Sayed with the Bavarian

The Arab nodded as he laughed "Come then, let us go to Cairo, slaves!Yalah!To El-Kahirah!"He bellowed, and the slaves quickly scrambled to their horses and transport.Sayed gently encourged the horse to pace, he was obviously of high skill and horsemenship.The Arab streered the horse to face the Frank as a servent brought a mare to the nephew of the Bavarian "Come my friend, ride so that we may go, do not repay me, gifts stay as gifts"
"HeeeYaaaa" He shouted, and the horse went into a rage and quickly trecked the road out of the tournament , the Arab looked back and laughed "Let us see who can get first to Caaaaiiirrrrrooooooooooooooooooo"the Arab continued to laugh, it was obviously an outright bet from him.The Arabian mare reached the top of the hill quickly, and Sayed hatled it, awaiting the Bavarian to come.

Calipah's Podium

Lady Zomoroda was pleased with the French Knight, obviously a man of noble blood with a good head on his shoulders. "Yes I agree Lord Jacques, but perhaps this rivalry might prove fruitful to the tournament "She smiled.

The tipping ended with the Gelerian knight victoriously winning over his competitors.The princess was overjoyed at the knight, who was, to a certain extent, attractive , perhaps even rougly handsome. "I like him Aunty, indeed, but when can I speak with him?if that is permited"She asked while giggling."
Her aunt shrugged "I do not know my dear, these muslims are too contracted on their religious issues, but I will try to arrange something, though I doubt your uncle will like this, you know how asture in his faith he is"
"True, but if he allowed me to take marrige of any bastard in the tournament, then I believe he will allow me to speakith with the knight of Gelre" remarked Sarah.

 

[HJ Tulp]

"For Gelre's Lion!"
Sir Richard was in his element, he was in his best form since ages and now he also had a reason to preform well. Sarah......that name had been going through his head all day. How beautifull she was....

As he started his run towards the rings he became more and more unaware of what was happening and when the run was over he had to look to see how many rings he had caught. He knew that the Bavarian knight had taken eleven and the Pskovian knight fiftheen. Twenty. Twenty rings. Richard was amazed himself, a perfect score!

He made a salute back to the Pskovian, saluted the Bavarian and guided his horse towards the podium.

"Your Majesty" Richard began saying to the Queen "Your are both very lovely and beautiful. However, I do not want to insult you but I have no other choice then crowning your niece, Princess Sara" turning to Sarah "as she is truly the real Queen of Love and Beauty." and he crowned the Princess.

 

[N Katsyev]

North Camp, About the Fig Trees​

​

His sword driven into the ground before him, under the sparse and poor shade of a fig tree, Nikolai Eevanivitch knelt and bowed his head, his hands clasped before him in prayer. He felt utterly trapped in his heavy garments which would be considered during most of the year back home to be relatively light and not at all suited to the fierce winter. Yet still he was suffering, it was quite clear he would have to get some more appropriate clothes or he wouldn't last the length of this tournament - not to mention the rest of his mission here in Egypt.

He wondered how the rest of the knights were doing, truly, armour was more of a liability in these lands than an asset. Surely an armoured man would boil to death in his own gear in the simple morning sun before a battle. Smiling a bit to himself he gained a new respect for the figures in the scriptures for having to bare a liftetime of this inhospitable clime. One of his retinue, an older man named Vseslav read to him a few passages in greek and finished with a moment of respect for the Virgin.

Rising, Eevanivitch pulled his blade from the ground and sheathed it again, patting Vseslav on the shoulder, "You see comrade, there are places on earth far worse than Mezen. It is truly a miracle of God anything survives here at all, such a dry, parched, arid place. Already I miss the countless rivers and unending forests, the crisp invigoration of a spring's morning. This climate, it favors sloth, it is no wonder false doctrines flourish here."

Vseslav had accompanied Nikolai since he was a young man first sent out into the great eastern colonies. He had travelled with Nikolai on trips through land so empty, so wild and untamed that it was a better chance than not that they had never been looked upon by human eyes. He had travelled with Nikolai as far as the greaty mountains in the east, they had looked together at the frozen emptiness beyond and now they had travelled to the biblical lands. Their first quest to bring the light of faith to the ignorant, now it was to secure the faith in the lands of its birth. As the two walked back to Eevanivitch's camp, Vseslav remained in silence only casting the occasional glance around at the camps of various other knights attending the tourney. Nikolai however, was characteristically focused, if not on his surroundings than upon his own silent thoughts and meditations. It was a trait honed and perfected in the vast reaches of lonely wilderness, as it could be in no other place.

 

[unmerged(31994)]

Calipah's Podium

Sarah averted her eyes shyly as the knight bestowed the crown upon her head, she desperatly wanted to say something, but her mouth was dry of words as the desert itself.
She looked at him with a smile of disbelief, mesmerized by his captious features."Compliments will not get you closer to me" she joked, trying desperatly to break the barrier between them.

North Camp, About the Fig Trees

The desert....Allahs most wonderous creation, a devourer of all the living.That he who survives it, comes out stronger, and that he who does not live it, has no right to live.Her silence attracted him, the feeling of death appealed to him, yes it was perfect to read the Quran and pray here.For noone dares trample on the silence which befells the sand dunes of Egypt.

His name is Shiek Omar, an elder of 67 summers.He took much pleasure in secluding himself from the bustle of Cairo to the charming silence of the desert, to dusk into the Holy book and contemplate Allah's creations.
Yet, to his surprise, a group of funny looking Franks, well not Franks, but slavs shattered the silence.Perhaps they were muslims from the Volga Bulgur lands, that which he has read about, but maybe not.

He apprached them with a smile, holding the good book in one hand, and a cane in the other.His features brought an air of purity.

" Assalam Alekum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh oh faithful of Allah "

 

[HJ Tulp]

Richard smiled friendly to the Princess.

"Your Highness, I wouldn't dare to do that. I am not making compliments, merely telling the truth. Now with your permission, I have to get out of this armour. Would you give me the honour of meeting you again on a later time? Do you happen to know if there is a festivity tent or something similair? I would be honoured to meet you your Highness." and Richard saluted both the Queen and the Princess by a diagonal nod.

 

[unmerged(31994)]

Calipah's Podium

She blushed perposefully , the words he said were like melodies to the ear, though not as alluring as the Arab flirtations, but she liked the Gelerian's words none the less.Oh, how her uncle would be furious!but it didnt matter, hes leagues away, in ancient Mecca, center of Islam, trying to strike some deal or something.His smile was tempting though... "The Arabs have a saying "That he who has a silver tongue, goes many places" ,I would be honored to meet you Sir Richard.Saladin's Fortress upon yonder hill you may find me, and we can speak at length if you wish, that is if my aunt would give me permission"She looked at Lady Zomoroda, who nodded carelessly.
She looked at Richard "Meet me after the Maghrib(sunset) prayers,preferably as the muslims pray, we can speak then"

 

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Event

Salaam Quran ..... sunhia spread their scriptures​

An order given and two men down the chain of command a man moves on a mission in the dead of night.

1. The Koran/Quran is found placed next to many contenders beds. As no preperation of defence has been made against such a henious crime the perpetrator goes free.

2. The Koran/Quran is found placed next to many contenders beds. Small preperation has been made and only a vaige discription of a small man in robes, seen running after being disturbed is noted.

3. The Koran/Quran is found placed next to many contenders beds. The agent is discovered by tourney guards but somehow escapes. It was as Salih al Mustali, but he escaped, heading north.

4. The Koran/Quran is found placed next to many contenders beds. as Salih al Mustali is caught red handed, but when he is arrested he dies on the way to Sir Ali to answer for his crime. The gaurds say he cut his own throat.

A 2 is rolled

The Koran/Quran is found placed next to many contenders beds. Small preperation has been made and only a vaige discription of a small man in robes, seen running after being disturbed is noted. The Alarm is sounded, even in the dead of night, as it is, and Sir Ali's men make a big show of searching the tourney grounds. "How dare someone intrude on contenders in his tourney " he says loudly. Then goes back to bed.

Ye list of contenders ​

QoLaB Princess Sara

General Ali Al-Mahdi (Not present yet)

Asad ad-Din Shirkuh. The Black knight. (+3 champion of renown.)

Sir Richard van Barel

Herr Keztler von Shillech

Sir Jaques de Voluceau

Lord Mongke

Sir Álvaro Lopes de Castello Branco

Sir Giovanni Amadeo Moritani, Conte di Trevi, Patrizio di Celestina

Sir Fernão Gomes,

Sir Dobromir Assen, Boyar of Plovdiv

Sir Ansgar Freidheich

Lord Nikolai Eevanvitch

In the morning a letter is sent to Sayef Id-Din.

Lord Sayef Id-Din

Infiltrating sunhia spread their scriptures. I hunt them in the tourney grounds. Would you be kind enough to search the outlying country? I also need to know when General Ali Al-Mahdi shall arrive so as I may start the first day.

May Allah grace you

Sir Ali A'ku

LMH

 

[Mettermrck]

His eyes were intensely alight as he bounded down the avenue of the South Camp towards the Herald's tent, the offending book in his right hand. He ignored anyone he passed by, acknowledged no greeting, and simply stepped purposely towards his destination. That this...this!...had to happen. No, not him too. Alvaro was no fool.

He arrived at the tent flap where the Lord Master Herald had been the previous day and bellowed in an angry voice. "Where is the leader of this tournament?!? I demand to speak with him at once!" Looking from the book to the tent, he stood glaring, not willing to move until his frustrations were given vent.

 

[unmerged(3110)]

Tashufin Nazir ad dir answers the call from the loud Frank. Behind him towers the mighty Asad ad-Din Shirkuh.

"Salam Alehkum. Sir knight. Sir Ali is out for a ride. How can I help you? "

Muscles twitch on the giant behind him.

 

[unmerged(31994)]

Abbasid Furry

"CURSE THESE SUNHIA!!Damn them time and time again!My Allah Curse them to the lowest drivels of Hell!Gawh!Whos the bastard who did this?!The Calipah will have his Head!Egypt will not tolerate Heresy!" Thus shouted Sayef Id-Din, who was already in a zealous frenzy.The audacity of the man who dared to do such action against the guests of the Caliphate!It was obviously one of the men of Ali Aku, this bastard sunhia!
As he approached the tent of the Herald, ripping his turban, Sir Ali El-Mahdi, riding his black stallion arrived.

*grumble...Damn Sunhia* Oi!Lord Ali! *He bowed quickly *My lord you have come from the front!Welcome welcome back!*He tried to hide his angry facials.
"What happened here Sayef?"
*gulp* Sunhia Mylord!trying to spread the faith among the heathens!*
"Damn, let us go to the Herald, I need to sign up anyway"

Heralds Tent

Sayef entered the tent with his loud mouth shouting at the grievous crime of the sunhia "Where is Sir Ali!Where is he?!".In his fit of rage, he didnt notice the Frank "What is the meaning of this atrocious act against out guests?!Sunhia!"

 

[HJ Tulp]

Calipah's Podium

She blushed perposefully , the words he said were like melodies to the ear, though not as alluring as the Arab flirtations, but she liked the Gelerian's words none the less.Oh, how her uncle would be furious!but it didnt matter, hes leagues away, in ancient Mecca, center of Islam, trying to strike some deal or something.His smile was tempting though... "The Arabs have a saying "That he who has a silver tongue, goes many places" ,I would be honored to meet you Sir Richard.Saladin's Fortress upon yonder hill you may find me, and we can speak at length if you wish, that is if my aunt would give me permission"She looked at Lady Zomoroda, who nodded carelessly.
She looked at Richard "Meet me after the Maghrib(sunset) prayers,preferably as the muslims pray, we can speak then"

Richard saluted again with a diagonal nod and said "Never have I wanted the sun to set more then now your Highness. Your Highness, your Majesty." Then he left.

That evening right after sunset Sir Richard van Baler walked, dressed in his finest suit, to the place designated by the Princess, there he waited for here....

 

[unmerged(31994)]

Sunset- Fort of Saladin

Allah Akbar, Allah Akbar, La Illah Illa Ellah

She sneaked out of her tent as the muslims congregated for prayers.She adorned herself witha simple yet delightful Arabian gown of Andalusian markings.She let her hair pour down upon her shoulders, giving her a sort of fresh divinity.
She found her "knight" in the fort, dressed up and all, oh she should have worn something more aristocratic!damn, no time to go back now....
She approached him with a crocked smile "Salam Alekum Sir Richard, Wonderful evening dont you think?" She gestured.

 

[HJ Tulp]

When she arrived Richard was unable to move for a few moments.

"She looks......hmmm, deliciously might be the wrong word for describing a princes." the young knight thought. Then he regained his posture and made a bow.

"Your Highness, a wonderful evening indeed that has only become more wonderfull with your arrival. May I be so frank that you look astonishing tonight?"

 

[unmerged(31994)]

She averted her eyes, the compliments he dusked her reddened her cheeks "Thank you Sir Richard , but please do not call me "highness" or "princess" when Sarah would suffice" She was shocked at how bold she spoke , didnt see that coming.She took to his hand and gently led him to a porch of marble , seating him beside her "So tell me of yourself, my gallent Knight" She smiled.

 

[HJ Tulp]

"Well, uhm, Sarah, forgive me but I might have been raised TO good." Richard smiled but the smile disappeared for a few seconds when her sof hand touched his own rough hand and she guided him to a porch of marble. Then he smiled again when she called him galant.

"What can I say, I am from Gelre as you know offcourse and I am the second son of the Baron of Barel. My older brother participated in many Tourney's across the Christian World and was even a Champion." Richard swallowed when he talked about his brother. "However unfortunantly he also served in the Gelran Army under Commander Link at Prussia. The whole army was annihalated by a gigantic Russian army. The songs telling the tale of that battle are still sung and a poet written about is still seen as the highpoint of Gelran poetry. Anyway, with my brother and most of the other Gelran knights death I was tasked to participate in Tourneys in honour of my House and my nation. Since then I have participated in many a Jousts, I haven't even been in Gelre for ages. Last year my uncle and myself payed a visit to the Gelran Duchess of Ragusa together with a group of guards we met in Venice. Just then there was a Palace coup in Ragusa and we had great dificulties rescuing ourselves and the Duchess. We were planning to returning to Gelre just then but we heard about the Tourney here and were obliged to participate. That's about it I think. Oh and I snor at night." He said the last with a wink then thinking very badly of himself for winking to a Princess.

"Now with your permission could you tell me some about yourself? For example how and why you came to Egypt?"

 

[unmerged(31994)]

"I am sorry for your brother....." of course, as all men, he had to add a joke at the end, but she compelled it with a giggle "You snore?hmmmmm I should consider the Bavarian then"
She sighed "Well its sort of a long story, my uncle, well my aunts husband, is the heir of what was once a great empire in the region, crushed by the mongols when they sacked the emerald city of Baghdad.In a twist of fate, after 250 years, the heir of the Abbasids rose up in revolt against the mognols and assumed control of Iraq, there he planned a coup in Egypt, and captured El-Khahirah.Now my uncle tierlessly tries to revive the old Empire" She rolls her eyes".As for my aunts story, well....when Byzantium was sacked by the mongols who burned the Hagia Sofia, my aunt and I fleed to the levant, escaping the slaughter in Costantinople.Although my family, the house of Demopolis is considerably rich, we left most of our possesions back in Byzantion.In the levant, we took a boat to Alexandria, where the Abbasids found us.The Calipah, Hakim bin Kamal, took a liking to my aunt, and asked for her hand.A change of fortunes so to speak.I have been here ever since.Egypt is a blessed land, and the muslims werent the monsters I imagined them to be, you can imagine how a naive Greek Girl must have felt in the first days of her stay in Cairo" She laughed "But the past is the past...."

 

[HJ Tulp]

*Consider?* Richard thought *for what? She wouldn't....?

"Constantinople...." Richard began. "I remember when my brother returned from Constantinople, offcourse it was by then far from the beautiful city it was before the Sacking. He fought against the Mongols as well. Anyway it has suprised me as well how....civil these Muslims are. Offcourse the most known Muslims in Western Europe are the Mongols. Quite a difference I imagine. So tell me, how did you become the prize of the Tourney?"

 

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"Bismallah.....

Allah Al-Akhbar !"

A special morning prayer is called at the beginning of the first day. Sir Ali leaves a message that he is looking into the matter of the agitator insergence and has made a point of passing the responability of Herald to Tashufin Nazir ad dir. He organises the order of the day and starts the days events. For some reason that is unknown even the best knights have a strange day at the lists.

Ye first day at the lists ​

QoLaB Princess Sara

General Ali Al-Mahdi (1 mount remaining)

1st Pass (3 ) -3

2nd Pass(2 ) -5

Vs

Asad ad-Din Shirkuh. The Black knight. (+3 champion of renown.) (+1 mount)

1st Pass ( 1+3=4) 0
2nd Pass(9+3=12 ) +10.

On the first pass General Ali looses grip on his lance and it falls in the path of his oponent, making him miss. On the second pass General Ali uses language not fitting a noble, when he is surprised by a clever tactic used by the Black knight and is shocked to be unhorsed.

=========

Sir Richard van Barel

1st Pass (3 ) -3

2nd Pass( 9) +5 (awarded to each knight)


Vs

Herr Keztler von Shillech

1st Pass (3 ) -3

2nd Pass(1 ) -10 actual +5

Both knights foul their lances on the barriers posts before they reach each other. The deputy Master herald thinks this might also have effected the Generals judgement in the last round and so has the top of many posts in the barrier shortened quickly. On the second run Herr Keztlers lance wobles, but is saved a foul blow by his oponent bringing their tips together in a shower of splinters.

========

Sir Jaques de Voluceau


1st Pass (3 ) -3

2nd Pass(7 ) +1


Vs

Lord Mongke *

1st Pass (3 ) -3

2nd Pass( 1) (first time) -10

As both knights let slip their lances on the first run, the first suspition of foul play starts to rumour round the lists... Are the lances greased? On the second pass Sir Jaques manages to touch his oponents shield firmly with his lance but it doesn't break. It might have had something to do with the fact that Lord Mongke dropped his lance tip too low and struck his horse from under him.The horse survived.

==========

Sir Álvaro Lopes de Castello Branco

1st Pass (8 ) +3
2nd Pass( 8) +3

Vs

Sir Giovanni Amadeo Moritani, Conte di Trevi, Patrizio di Celestina

1st Pass (6 ) +1

2nd Pass(3 ) -3

Sir Álvaro is in fine fetle. On both passes he manages a text book breaking of his lance. Sir Giovanni manages a fine broken lance tip on the first run, but alas his lances tip hits the ground and he drops it before it causes him to fall in the second run.

==========

Sir Fernão Gomes,

1st Pass (7 ) +1

2nd Pass( 9) +5 (awarded to each knight)


Vs

Sir Dobromir Assen, Boyar of Plovdiv

1st Pass (7 ) +1

2nd Pass(6)Breaking a tip +1 actual +5

Both knights are cautious on the first run and it pays off. They both achieve a fine scoring touch, one upon the other. Improving with the second run an acurate tip from Sir Dobromir Assen is improved as Sir Fernão Gomes brings their lance tips together.

==========

Sir Ansgar Freidheich
1st Pass (9 ) +5 (awarded to each knight)

2nd Pass(2 )-5

Vs

Lord Nikolai Eevanvitch

1st Pass (4 ) 0
2nd Pass(4 ) 0

Lord Nikolais' shakey start is hardly noticed as Sir Ansgar brings his trembling tip to his own. However, in the second run a narowly missed strike by Lord Nikolai spooks Sir Ansgars horse and he looses control as it runs into the crowd, stopping only after narrowly missing a vendor.



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