Name: Prince Saladin of the House of Carr
Player: AniX
Race: Passani
Description: Tall but thin, Saladin looks like is perpetually going to be blown over by a stiff breeze. He is not feeble, however: He walks with confident and purpose and it is a rare moment he stumbles or limps. Rather, he is without any muscle to speak of, and not merely the body of leisure one is accustomed to seeing on a nobleman. He wears his dark hair long, with a goattee
on his child
I'm sure I was trying to say something here, but fuck if I know
. His face is lean but would be attractive, if not for the large burn covering nearly half leaving his right side rough-looking and unevenly colored.
Phase 1: Prince Saladin was born the second son of the House of Carr, a wealthy and very powerful Passani family. While enjoying much greater luxeries than most, he was still, in his parent's eyes, one child too many and they never let him forget it. His older brother, then-Prince Mahmoud, was being growned to be the next leader of the House and Saladin had one directive: Stay out of the way. Mahmoud was everything Saladin was not. He was strong, assertive, ruggedly handsome. Saladin's face, on the other hand, while no means unattractive bore a disfiguring burn from when he had pushed Mahmoud away from a steaming kettle he had stubbornly tried to pull down, and Saladin suffered the scalding water himself. If his brother was appreciative or repentant, he never showed it. In fact, his brother's temper was legendary, particularly towards the staff. The Carr House employed many Tiktik servants, and Brother Mahmoud would take near delight in harassing them, even as a young child. When he grew older, he would often gleefully order them to do things that he knew would later get them in trouble with his father, the head of the House of Carr. His racism didn't end at the Mansion gate either. He would often curse out Tiktik on the street, accusing them of being thieves and criminals and even, if he felt so inclined, attacking them. He would sometimes even cite religious doctrine at them, accusing them of being the cause of natural disasters or poor weather. Perhaps it was his own experiences with being second-class, but Saladin felt for these people. He would often shelter servants in his room when his brother was on a rampage, and they in turn comforted him when his father was particularly neglectful. Through his servants, he became part of the larger Tiktik community that ran through the town. In many ways, they were his replacement family, and they imparted on his a rich appreciation of nature. He would often sneak out, more to prevent his family from yelling at him for associating with the lower castes than for any concern for his well-being, and go on wilderness journeys with the Tiktiks he befriended and mapping it out on parchment he had stolen from his father's desk. Then, when he was 20 years of age, his father died and Mahmoud became in charge.
Aspect: Secondary Concerns
Knowledge (Nobility)
Language (TikTik)
Craft (Maps)
Knowledge (Geography)
Phase 2: If his father had been dismissive of the Tiktik, Mahmoud was outright oppressive. He immediately had all Tiktik servants fired and replaced with other races, citing fear they offended the heavens and that he had evidence they were stealing. He began a campaign, a successful one, to revoke the right of Tiktiks to trade within town limits. He would have quarellsome Tiktiks arrested and sentenced to exile from the town. Soon, even Tiktiks who kept to themselves were being drummed out. To be fair, some Tiktiks did live up to the charges. But last guys don't finish nice. Often in order to eat, especially in the culture of prejudice Mahmoud encouraged, they had to steal. In order to leave, they had to do things they weren't proud of. But Mahmoud's tactics harmed every Tiktik, even the innocent elderly, women, and children. Saladin could only watch helplessly from the lone room he was permitted in the massive mansion as his friends and substitute family were forced out of their homes, some having been there for generations, and sent into exile. Any Tiktik would dared stay or try to sneak back in was immediately reported by citizens eager to earn Mahmoud's favor, and he would have them roughed up (or worse) by the corrupted police force or, if Mahmoud found them himself, Mahmoud's own fists. Saladin did what he could, sneaking out of town as many times as twice a week with as many bundles of food, clothing, and blankets he could carry to give to the now-nomadic Tiktiks. When Mahmoud's son was born, Saladin made the passive-aggressive protest of not attending his celebration, a move that resulted in Mahmoud storming into his room, pinning him up against the wall, and threatening his life. Saladin could take no more. He had been silent too long, allowed himself and the TikTiks to be bullied and doing nothing. As Mahmoud's son grew and began to demonstrate he was every bit his father's son, Saladin knew he had to make his move. He couldn't let this oppression continue for another generation. On his next trip out of town, he summoned the more rough around the edge TikTik and told them his plan: Assassination. He was going to kill Mahmoud, kill his son, and take his place as the top dog for once. So that the TikTiks could experience equality for once. That night, he tricked his nephew to come to an river, one he had scouted with his Tiktik friends years before. When the inexperienced youth fell in and began to drown, he called out for his brother, who came running and Saladin guided him up a nearby cliff, allegedly on the pretense of seeing where the river had taken his boy. With his brother's eyes on the river, he slashed his brother with a blade, kicking him into a rushing river below. His nephew saw nothing but his father's drowning cries, and with a few pointed statements by Saladin, presumed he was the cause. Saladin raised his blade, the original plan to kill both father and son. But he couldn't. He simply didn't have it in his heart to kill a child. He sent the boy away and called for his TikTik associates. He had wanted to keep their hands clean, but they would have to do the deed. They would not have known the boy, watched him grow up. Perhaps it would be easier. He then returned to his home and reported the “unfortunate accident” that had claimed his only two remaining relatives. With a heavy heart, he assumed the throne.
Aspect: Noble Intentions
Scimitar
Diplomacy
Perform (Rhetoric)
EXTRA- The “Vual”
Phase 3: And so Saladin settled in as head of the House of Carr. He was regarded as a stern ruler, one who did not suffer fools lightly. Even his own friends would sometimes be on the receiving end of one of his rants when they messed up. But he was fair about it. He accused nobody of something he didn't deserve it, and yelled at Passani as often as he did Tiktik. But for the Passani who had grown accustomed to privilege, Saladin's new world order of equality was Hell itself. They begged him to reconsider. When a drought hit the city, food became to become scarce. The other Passani seized on this, citing this as a fulliment of Mahmoud's belief. “You let the Tiktik in, and look how God punishes us.” They demanded he relocate the House to a new town. But he refused. He wasn't just responsible for the welfare of the Passani. If he took his wealth out of the town, he would leave the rest of the town in irreversible squalor. No, he couldn't. The whole town would sink or the whole town would swim, and the Passanis weren't going to get special consideration. Not anymore. He tried to express this to the Passani, to make them listen. But hatred ran through their veins just as it had run through his brother's. He tried his best, but sometimes he had to call out to his rougher Tiktik friends, those he entrusted to keep order in town, to make sure more troublesome Passani “got the message” that inequality was not to be tolerated. Sometimes, circumstances forced him to use one Passani, strung up in the city square, to deliver that message to the others. But he would tolerate no more racism.
Aspect: Duty to His Subjects
Diplomacy
Intimidation
Deceit
Perform (Rhetoric)
Phase 4: Unfortunately, despite assurances from his Tiktik collugues that the boy had been dealt with, compassion had taken over them as well and the boy had been living in exile, a fact Saladin learned when he returned many years later, now a man, to challenge Saladin for control of the House. Ultimately, Saladin's actions came to light and a physical tussle began between uncle and nephew that Saladin, despite being the physical inferior by a long shot, managed to hold his own before a whole brawl broke out, as Saladin's Tiktik enforcers battled against the loyalist troops of the prodigal son of Mahmoud. Fearing it was getting out of hand, Saladin retreated, having his best enforcer pretend to turn mercenary and kill Saladin for his valuables while the rest of them scattered and Saladin, very much not a corpse, slipped away in the chaos. And that is the Saladin now seen, a fallen Prince now an exile alongside those he fell in order to save. He was different than the weak Saladin he used to be. He is quick to anger and known for not tolerating fools. He is pugnacious, often settling disputes between himself and his enforcers with a well-placed hook to the jaw. But he is loyal, to his TikTik friends and to the mission. He promised them freedom, and he was not going to stop until he regained the throne and gave it to them. And he knows they'll follow him anywhere. After all, family sticks together.
Aspect: Falling from Grace leave Bruises
Intimidation
Language (TikTik)
Diplomacy
Unarmed Combat
Fate Points: 4
Goal: To regain the House and help the Tiktik regain what they deserve.
Equipment:
Basic Sword (Scimitar)
Aspects:
Human
Closed-minded (Racial Aspect)
Shrewd (Racial Aspect)
Secondary Concerns
Noble Intentions
Duty to His Subjects
Falling from Grace Leaves Bruises
Skills:
Language (Passani)- 3 (Racial Skill)
Diplomacy-3
Intimidation- 2
Perform (Rhetoric)-2
Language (TikTik)-2
Knowledge (Geography)-1
Craft (Maps)-1
Deceit-1
Scimitar-1
Knowledge (Nobility)-1
Unarmed Combat-1
Language (Trade)-1 (Racial Skill)
Extras:
EXTRA-1
EXTRA: The “Vual”- Saladin is regarded by the TikTik has some sort of hero, a mix of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Mother Theresa. Pretty much any TikTik who isn't a hermit (and quite a number who are) know Prince Saladin as the person who gave up his birthday and sacrificed his own flesh and blood so that the TikTik may have a chance at equality. At worst, a TikTik will regarded him as a little “too perfect”, but still be appreciative of the things it has been well-established he did and treat him with respect. At best, a Tiktik will treat him as akin to a God walking among them who is a shining beacon of hope in a troubling world. Most TikTik fall somewhere in the middle of the two extremes, but one would be hard-pressed to find a TikTik who is neutral about him, and might search their whole life without finding one who actively disliked him.
Even the name they call him, the “Vual”, indicates this sentiment: “Vual” is, in the TikTik language, the world for Savior. Most Tiktiks will refer to him not by his name but by these nickname. Many do it out of respect, as one might refer to a military leader or royal by their title. Others do it out of taboo, feeling to call Saladin by his name would be like going up to a God and calling him “Dude”.
