Character Questionnaire (Opens in new window)
Nobility |
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| Haroun al-Raschid, Caliph of Baghdad (Lee Bennett) |
The head of mosque and state. It is said that the Caliph is the greatest ruler in the world, the wisest and most just. He is as yet unmarried, though he keeps a fine Harem of odalisques (concubines). | |
| Al-Fadl al-Barmak, Senior Vizir (Scott Martin) |
The administrator of Baghdad. A quiet, unassuming man, unlike his brother Jafaar al-Barmak; nevertheless, with Jafar absent, he must undertake the difficult task of filling his brother's slippers. | |
| Hussain al-Yusuf, The Imam (Frank Lewis) |
The second man in Baghdad's religion. The Imam is, unlike the Caliph, a Shi'ite Muslim and a believer in the doctrine of the Hidden Imam who awaits. He is said to be godly and devout. | |
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The Sultan of Basra (Scott Whitesell) |
The monarch of the southern city of Basra. Rumor has it that the Sultan is ill-used by women, having found out his previous wives in base adultery with degraded slaves, and trusts no females completely. Some say that he has strangled several young wives, but his most recent wives have lived in his Harem for some time. |
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Princess Shahrzad of Basra (Colleen Kennedy) |
The Sultan's most recent wife. A beautiful young woman, said to be quite resourceful. She is perhaps the only woman whom the Sultan trusts at all. |
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Princess Dunyazad of Basra (Ellen Lewis) |
A nervous, flighty, but lovely woman with a delight in talking far too much with other women, she relies heavily upon her sister Shahrzad. |
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Prince Khoura of Marabiyah (Bret Shefter) |
The monarch of the state of Marabiyah. A coastal prince, Prince Khoura is darkly handsome and magnificently suave. Surely the rumors of his court's experiments with sinister sorcery are lies spread by the faithless. |
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Muhmad, Turkish Warlord (Brian Tatosky) |
Conqueror of Northern Hindustan. A true warrior of Islam, this chieftain from the Steppes has brought the word and flame of Allah to the godless hordes of Hindustan. |
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Sihad, Bride of Muhmad (Amy Creamer) |
Shadowy mate of Muhmad. Of Sihad, little is known, save that she is a princess taken as wife by the conquering Muhmad during his campaigns among the infidel Hindus. |
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Prized Slaves |
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Aziza (Bess Bowes) |
A quiet Arabic slave girl; Kadin (first woman) of the Harem. |
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Jabaleh (Pat Mannion) |
A large slave girl of unusual aspect. |
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Jaheira (Roselle Hurley) |
A Northern slave girl with the exotic features of that icy land. |
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Zuleika (Megan Knox) |
A Persian slave girl, pale and jewel-like. |
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Hassan (Andy Ashcraft) |
An Armenian slave boy with abilities useful in both commerce and more personal entertainment. |
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Jamil (Tapani) |
A Circassian slave boy with just a bit of spirit to make him interesting. |
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Palace Servitors |
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Amani the Cook (Helen Nauert) |
The Palace Cook, quick to anger. |
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Asah (Judy Adler) |
The Assistant Cook, impertinent and shiftless. |
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Hajj the Poet/ Habil the Wrestler (Ryan Oba) |
An entertainer - mystical/strong like bull. |
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Shayedah the Singer (Naomi Weiss) |
An entertainer, singing to put angels to shame. |
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Jamal the Wrestler (Sandy Harrington) |
An entertainer, strong like bull. |
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Natasya the Dancer (The Other Elizabeth) | An entertainer, lovely as the mirage. |
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Wise Ones |
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Viraf al'Yazishn (Christian Brown) |
A Zoroastrian astrologer. Learned, though the strongly Muslim may deem him faithless. |
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Abd al-Hazrad, the Mad Poet (Nick Schlensker) |
A Syrian from Damascus. A poet of questionable quality and taste, who claims to learn unspeakable wisdom in the buzzing whispers of the insects. |
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Zenobia the Witch (Laurie Simpson) |
A woman of Oman. A wealthy widow and known sorceress, she is accompanied at all times by her guardian - the Minaton, a nine-foot-tall statue of brass, with the head of a bull and the body of a powerful man. |
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Sokurah the Sorcerer (Morgan Wessler) |
A Persian of dark mien. The ingratiating Sokurah is well-known in the courts of Baghdad, Basra, Damascus and Samarkand. His imagination, sometimes considered cruel, is quite varied. |
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Daring Ones |
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Captain Sinbad (Mike Tice) |
Adventurous merchant. The most famous sailor in the world, a modern version of the infidel Greek hero Odysseus. They say Sinbad would dare anything, go anywhere, risk everything for fame, fortune and adventure. |
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Hakim the Slaver (David Altman) |
Slave merchant. Though his vocation may be the trade in human flesh, Hakim is a kindly, good-natured soul who dutifully follows the Five Pillars of Islam. They say that he is accursed in some fashion, after a misadventure on the Nubian coast. |
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Ursula (Cynthia Chamberlin) |
Frankish lady rescued by Sinbad. Little is known, but all wish to know more, of this strange pale woman of the West. A rare (and possibly ungodly) pleasure is found in this sharp-witted Frankishwoman - the few who have spoken with her have said that she has both beauty and a mind worthy of the Caliph's own ministers. |
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The Common People |
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Al-Adin, a Clever Youth (Michael Reed) |
A commoner. Seemingly half-Arabic and half-Cathayan, the lad is certainly ambitious. |
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Alexander, a Fair Young Boy (Rebecca Strong) |
- A commoner. A lissome youth from the Mediterranean, with an appealing air. |
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A Curiously Familiar Youth (Phil Adler) |
A commoner. A cocky, arrogant young man with seemingly boundless energy and acrobatic talent. Where have we seen him before? |
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Leila, a Mysterious Figure (Tatianna) |
A commoner. Veiled with the modesty due a true woman of the Faith, and perhaps something more. |
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The Unexpected |
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Ala'i, a Monkey (Ian Fagan) |
These animals always amuse the Caliph. The monkey is under his Holy Highness' protection, and may not be harmed or put to death without his permission. |
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An Automaton (Rachel Heslin) |
A sophisticated machine, clearly a gift for the Caliph. Delivered by tongueless male slaves in a rolled carpet, perhaps she is some sort of toy? There is no sign of whom her (doubtless wealthy, doubtless royal) artificer may be, but their gift (with the word "fildai" inscribed on her person - perhaps her name?) is worthy of a prince. |
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A Spirit (Ray Lavoie) |
Is this person even really present? If one meets this personage, the experience will be unforgettable. |
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Characters may be visitors from many lands: Arabia (Saudi Arabia, UAR, Trucial States, Kuwait, Oman) And they may follow many religions: Islam Their professions may be many as well: AlchemistAssassin Astrologer Barber Craftsman Courtesan Executioner Ghazi (warrior) Guard captain Janissary (slave-caste warrior) Kalendar (court official) Kahina (seeress) Lunatic Merchant Mullah (learned theologian) Noble Nomad Peasant Poet Scholar Seafarer (honest or corsair) Sha'ir (sorcerer) Slave Slavetrader Thief Traveling Entertainer Not all players' characters need be human, but most will be. Among the possible non-human beings are: Djinn-blooded humans (the sons and daughters of mortals mated with Djinni) Some player characters may be sorcerers, but most will be ordinary people - yet even ordinary people may begin the game under an enchantment of benign or malign nature, or with the company of a magical creature or item. Character questionnaires will be posted later.
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