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Abu-Bakr

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Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

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The days continued on in hot monotony until a new prisoner was brought to the jail. It was a warmer night and the stars shone brightly through the slits in the walls. The knights were beginning to drift off to sleep when the door to the prison structure burst open. What came through was a squabbling mass of guardsmen huddled around and fighting to retain their hold on a scrappy ill-kept creature. This creature struggled and screamed in vain.
The storm of struggling men made their way across the floor. Chairs were knocked over and the few furnishings flew scattered across the room. They managed the man over to the cell between DeLoren and Millard who watched in curious amazement at the scene that unfolded. The door was opened by a guard who juggled with holding onto the desperate prisoner and the door itself. As it was creaked upon the scrappy man was forced through with a united shove by the guards. He fell with a hard oomph and the iron portcullis was rapidly shut and locked.
With surprising speed the man got up from the floor and lunged at the cell’s door. He wrapped his fingers around the bars and screamed angrily at the guards. They paid no heed as they left the building. But even with the leave of their minders he continued screaming curses in Khardian. Soon, his anger turned weeping and he fell onto his cot.
The knights, spurred back to awareness did not attempt to go back to sleep. Instead they watched the sobbing man with curiosity. “What do you think he did?” DeLoren mouthed to Millard. He answered with a shrug.

23-Jan-2010 23:30:18 - Last edited on 03-Nov-2010 15:09:55 by Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Posts: 58,110 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
DeLoren turned back to his cot and for the first time since they were given them laid eyes on the pieces of paper that Abu-Bakr had given them. He bent over and picked them up, they were dirty and out of order, if there was an order. Dirt was smeared on the surface and mountainous wrinkles were dashed across the surface. But he flipped through looking at each page and examining the writing on them. Eventually coming to a page with an arrow on the right side pointing left. He removed the sheet from the rest and looked at it. Running in right-left line (or so he assumed) was a list of characters, underneath was written a letter or combination of letters from the Misthalin and Asgarnian tongue. He looked at the first on in the upper right hand corner.
This character was a simple top to bottom stroke. Underneath was written a simple “A” and underneath that “Alef” was written. He sat there quietly muttering “Alef” and sounding out the “a” sound. After a few moments he moved to the next.
The second symbol was something of a table turned over with the legs in the air. Underneath it was a solitary dot, as if the table was balancing on top of a ball, had it not been floating a few hairs above it. There was also a second character along side this, it was similar in structure but missed its right “leg”. Under it was written a “B” and underneath that: “Baa”. He recited to himself the sound of the baa. As with alef, he moved on to the next after a while.
He moved to the third, as with the “baa” it was like an upside down table. But above it floated two dots (this was the same to its sibling in that it mimicked the second baa character). He looked below it and read the “T” that was scribbled beneath it. The name of this character was “Taa”. He recited this before continuing down the sheet.

27-Jan-2010 18:37:16 - Last edited on 03-Nov-2010 15:10:16 by Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Posts: 58,110 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
There were twenty-eight characters inscribed on the browning papyrus. Most had as many as four variations of the same letter. At each one he stopped to study the form and the sound. When he finished reading the paper he began, but this time writing in air the shape of the letters. Soon sleep overcame him and he slipped into a restful still sleep, the parchment still grasped loosely in his hands.

The new comer in the jail retained a shroud of mystery around himself. He refused to talk to anyone and taken to solemn obedient misery. He would slowly do what the guards ordered him to do. As if there was a great weight on his shoulders. Millard and DeLoren both questioned what it was he did. But neither bothered to ask openly. But, over the following days they were able to find the pieces to the puzzle that thinned that veil.
One day they found themselves asking Imal who he was as they shoveled away a pile of camel and horse dung onto a cart (the pile being placed there the previous day when they cleaned the stables). Imal decided to find the manners to answer the question, although it did*’t fill anything in.
“He’s going to be my new toy.” he said in amusement. When they asked about that he simply replied, “Questions do not clean up waste. Yallah, my al’Byd!*
The two continued their work. Once their day finished they were again escorted to their cells. Millard laid down to rest and DeLoren to study. Between them the third strange prisoner sat in silent self-misery. DeLoren flipped through the sheets of paper, glancing over to the stranger. He wondered: could he speak Asgarnian? Misthalnese? He bothered not to ask. They would have known sooner.

28-Jan-2010 21:37:56 - Last edited on 18-Nov-2010 01:21:18 by Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Posts: 58,110 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Several minutes passed before a pair of guards strode in. They unlocked the prisoner’s door and he lethargically surrendered to them. DeLoren watched curiously from behind the papers. Where were they taking him? What was it he did? He skimmed through the papers in search of words he could use to build his questions. But he found it difficult to find any, much of it seemed basic.
He moaned in frustration, the language barrier between him and the desert retained the strength of solid steel. He could not yet cut through it, but looking at the basic phrases that ran across the page he could at least thin it.

Soon enough the story behind the new prisoner was explained. A week later DeLoren and Millard were called to tend to Imal, fortunately in the cool air of indoors. The two found themselves standing in the corner of a large open room
The floor was marbled and the chamber echoed as foot falls filled the room. A high stand stood at the far end of the room, opposite the doors. Benches stood at attention along an aisle facing the stand, stiffly looking towards the stand. Thin slitted windows lined the top of the walls, letting in a flow of air that helped in cooling the room. A door stood at the far stand’s right flank.
Between the spectator’s space and the high, imposing structure on that room’s far wall was another smaller one, encircled by a low barrier. To the walls on either side sat more enclosed benches. Millard and DeLoren found themselves on the right side with Imal and a collection of other officers. Asuf was also present. The two knights immediately recognized this chamber as a court room, nearly of identical build as those in their home-land. Minus the set of seats opposite them and a smaller judge’s stand.

30-Jan-2010 01:17:00 - Last edited on 18-Nov-2010 01:21:43 by Smok Taunter

Alex X777

Alex X777

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I'm enjoying the read so far, my friend. I've read it half way, and I seem to remember the begining of it, I think I read it when you first posted it, but never finished it 'cos I left the Forums. But it was good to read it again, I'll try finish it soon.

30-Jan-2010 20:45:52

Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Posts: 58,110 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
A motley collection of spectators gathered and took their seats. A few minutes passed before a man came in and shouted out in Khardian. Afterwards the mystery prisoner was brought in, escorted by a pair of guards. His head was bowed and his face was covered in a shadowy sadness.
The man was escorted to the small podium between the judge’s seat and the spectators. The crowd whispered in excitement. And what sounded like insults were thrown at the man. But the noise quickly died down when the doors near the judge’s stand were thrown open. From these doors strolled a skinny, elderly man. He hobbled over to the raised platform where he slowly sat and adjusted the fez on his head. Abu followed suite and stood in the corner, dressed for the occasion but keeping out of sight.
He coughed weakly and began to speak. Asuf, translated in a low whisper for the knights:
“Benni Abdul Raqem.” the judge began, “You’re aware you’ve been sent before us today on several accounts of crimes committed against the village. Do you know these crimes?”
Benni was silent; he shifted on his feet and raised his chained hands to move aside a swath of long black hair. “Theft.” he said quietly.
The judge nodded. “Not only that,” said the judge, “but you attempted the murder of Mahmound Shalman; whom we have in our court room. And as you are surely aware today is your day of sentencing.”
Benni continued to sit in silence.

The judge continued, “We have reviewed the evidence at hand and our scriptures to determine your punishment. Over your time of wait we have ruled that you are responsible for your crimes. And we have determined the punishment for your crimes.

15-Feb-2010 23:05:34 - Last edited on 18-Nov-2010 01:22:20 by Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Smok Taunter

Posts: 58,110 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“For the damage done to the property and self of Mahmound we order the pay of a thousand pieces of gold. This payment would have been taken from your accounts, but a review of you has turned up no deposit in any accounts to the village under your name. As such we have determined that you will need to pay yourself off in a year’s labor, under the eye of Imal.”
The judge looked at Imal who chuckled quietly. The judge continued, “And for the count of attempted murder, and to have you bare the mark of a dangerous man, and to keep you from committing any such aggression again. I order the severing of your hand, this to be carried out briefly in the courtyard. I adjourn this meeting.”
Benni broke down into silent sobs. His hands rose to his face and he fell to his knees. Imal stood up and barked at a couple guards to get him outside. The two carried out the orders and dragged the man outside. “Now,* Imal said turning to DeLoren and Mallard with a large smile, “you will see what shall happen to you, should you choose to disobey!”
The crowd shuffled outside, following after the prisoner who wept remorsefully to himself. DeLoren and Millard started for the door with Imal, but he stopped and told them to bring the drink. They stood with a disobedient hesitance; Imal caught their disobedience and approach them with aggressive step. They snapped quickly into action and made for the copper jug that contained the water and a few copper cups.
The two followed after Imal into the open courtyard. The spectators from the courtroom had already gathered, leaving a large open space in the court** plaza. In the middle a large stone block had been hauled out. The condemned man knelt behind it, his arm placed across the block, ropes held by a pair of guards held he and his arm down. He had quiet is loud crying and sat. Twistedly sobbing.

20-Feb-2010 04:25:37 - Last edited on 18-Nov-2010 01:22:54 by Smok Taunter

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