14th February 2013
14:49 GMT -6
"…intended to inspire dreamers."
The Caliph stands at the edge of his balcony, hands on the railing. Luna, Nabu and I sit on the cushions behind him as he considers what we've said.
"It was
not intended to allow one wizard to impose his will upon the world."
Nabu's Dream Baghdad transformation has just changed his robes a little and given him a turban. I've been transformed into something like a djinn… Or maybe an ifrit? I've never learned the physical difference, but my mystical senses have been brought to the fore while my mundane ones have receded a little. I'm wearing armour over my chest, but the Tron lines of my armour are now tattoos. Luna… Has ended up in something
a little more risqué, though since it still covers more than what she wears as a pony I don't think she's really noticed.
"If I may ask, O Caliph, what did he ask when he came before you?"
Nice that he doesn't seem to object to her taking the lead.
"Ahri'ahn has visited my city many times, offering tales and artefacts to trade for knowledge and reagents. His latest scheme seemed grand, but I am the last man to think poorly of a man of
ambition. He told me that he wished to see his homeland raised to the greatness that it had in his youth." He bows his head slightly. "And he showed me what had befallen my land since I chose to remove all wonder from it."
Luna nods. "The dreams of my own world are shallow compared to what you have here. Could they not rebuild what you once had?"
"It was my assumption that they
would. That they would dream of my city and seek to recreate it. But, alas, it was not to be."
"You wish to reverse your own decree?"
"I do not believe that the Lord of Dreams would grant such a request. But I had hoped to play a more
direct role in recreating the greatness my home once knew. Ahri'ahn told me that it was possible."
I frown. "Forgive my ignorance, O Caliph, but I did not think that a follower of Mohammad was supposed to engage in such practices."
"There is some debate amongst the scholars of my court how much involvement with magic is permissible for a Muslim. It is not ideal, of course, but I am responsible for the wellbeing of my people. Demons and foul sorcerers exist, and ignorance protects no one. For the most part, I employ infidels to handle…
Direct matters, so as not to taint the souls of the faithful." He takes a deep breath. "Allah has granted the domain of Dreams to the Lord of Dreams, and so I may treat with him as I would with a foreign sovereign."
Total bollocks. He literally made himself a magical creature while his fleshy remains were left to live out their days broken in mind and spirit, basically the
definition of what Mohammad banned when he cleared the animist shrines out of Mecca.
All because he was afraid of something happening that he then deliberately made happen! It's a basic component of Judaeo-Christian-Islamic morality: you're not
supposed to try and live forever! You're not
supposed to
sniff your own farts so hard that you can't take the idea that things in the future might be a little different and you're
certainly not supposed to deliberately sacrifice other people upon the altar of your
ego! You're supposed to spend your life striving to be worthy of Heaven! Fix what you can! Endure what you can't!
He-!
Whooo.
I'm… Honestly a little surprised about how personally I'm taking this.
Ah…
Just…
fix the table…
Haroun Al Raschid turns back to us as the glow dies down. He probably felt that, or something. He's basically the concept of a perfect king, and knowing when an ambassador is angry enough to accidentally break your furniture is probably a part of that.
"Is there a ruler in the lands of the Holy Prophet in whom I might place my faith instead?"
I mentally run through the list. There are plenty who aren't
terrible, but none of them are exactly in danger of rebuilding the Ottoman Empire or anything.
"The current ruler of Kahndaq is a most excellent man, well liked by his people and dedicated to their care. But you would call him an infidel."
He waves that off. "My own ancestors were infidels before the coming of the Prophet. I shall consult my sages and consider his worth."
A fairly noncommittal answer, but I'll warn Adom once we get out.
Luna draws herself up slightly. "What aid did you give Ahri'ahn?"
He gestures to the
other balcony, the one looking out over Poseidonis.
"He bound dreams of my city to his own homeland. He shared my insights with his king, those of my sorcerers with their magicians, the habits of my people with his. But… Not. He used his own magic to alter things. To change the way those virtues manifested." He walks over to that balcony. "It has been interesting to watch, but he has broken our agreement by attempting to extend his control over
my lands. A shame."
I look at Nabu as he nods. He hasn't said much while we've been here. I would have thought that this is the sort of place that his order-instincts would hate, but maybe the Dream has been around so long that it's part of the systems of rules that govern the universe?
"Then will we have your aid in undoing his working?"
"My aid? No. I will merely withdraw my support. He will have to sustain his enchantment with his own magic, and I would warn you that his magic is substantial."
I
don't grunt. But I will admit that even as a wave of
something passes through the Poseidonis streets I grimace a little.
"I am uncertain of your intent, O Caliph. Do you wish for us to negotiate with him, now that he is weakened?"
"He has broken the terms of our agreement." He idly waves his right hand. "He is no longer my concern."
"I hear what you say, but that doesn't mean that you don't have a preference. I prefer to avoid alienating people where it is not necessary to do so."
"Hm." He nods. "Blessed are the peacemakers. What gods do your people worship, I wonder?"
"We worship the Source, a single supreme unified divine power. For practical purposes you may identify it with your god, though the manner of our worship is different."
"And are peacemakers blessed amongst your people?"
"Amongst
my people? If they actually managed to make peace, they would
have to have been blessed."
He nods. "And you, Princess?"
"My people do not worship a particular deity as yours do. But there are… Principles which we consider sacred. We value peace, but we have been
at peace for so long that there are no noted peacemakers amongst us. In truth, our greatest heroes are those who still know how to fight, despite the lassitude brought about by a thousand years of peace."
"A thousand years of peace? Even I did not manage that." He exhales slowly. "My feelings on the matter… He does what he thinks is right for his people. It would be… More
satisfying if he were encouraged to see the error of his ways, that he may repent and seek forgiveness from Allah. But if that proves impossible, then I will take no action against you."
I rise, and bow to him.
"Thank you for speaking with us, O Caliph. I will advise Teth Adom that you wish to speak with him."
"Do you think that he will respond well?"
"I think that converting him will be an uphill battle. But I imagine that it has been some time since you have had a challenge."
"True." He nods. "You are dismissed. I wish you fortune in your mission."
