The Tragedy of Ghanem the Wise

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THE TRAGEDY OF GHANEM THE WISE

OR

THE TWELFTH RESPONSE OF EMPEROR JOSEPH

 

 

“To Mister Arthos Devereux,

 

I write to thee with heavy hand in regards to the recent ultimatum of the Curonian government directed to myself, the Imperial State, and the people of the Holy Orenian Empire, with you yourself a prime instigator and author of the document. It is in these pretenses that I lay before you my decision to the terms of independence and in relation to the Kingdom of Curon to our union of humanity.

 

But first, Mr. Wright, I must ask you one question: Have you heard the tragedy of Ghanem the Wise?

 

It is a story from my Shafei youth, about a diligent qali sheepherder named Ghanem and his children Istifaan and Al-Seanniya. Ghanem was known throughout the land for his wisdom and knowledge, and many of his village looked to him for guidance in times of trouble or danger. He was so well-known, in fact, that even the tribal chief and local emirs would come to his house to pay respects and ask for his words upon subjects of ruling, politics, and war. In every court of the lands he lived in he was always an honored guest and elder, and to many his word was law.

 

When the local chief died without heirs, the people went to elect the wise Ghanem as their ruler- but through claims of humility and old age, he refused, and instead he convinced the elders to place his own sons Istifaan and Al-Seanniya as leaders of their tribe. His sons were young and not as experienced as their father, as so they relied heavily on their father for support in their tenures. From the very start, Ghanem sat at every council and every deliberation with his sons, at first advising and guiding his sons. The tribe prospered and the people were happy.

 

One day, from the northern steppes, tarchars of Togai Bey raided and pillaged the lands, slaughtering many of the villages of the desert qali. From the Ar-Jubal to the River Pelos, they descended upon the peoples, killing many and enslaving the others. The chiefs Istifaan and Al-Seanniya summoned the council to decide what to do, with some wanting to join their qali brothers to drive off the horde and others wanting to flee or bend to the invaders. The brothers desired to join the amassing army of allied tribes to fend off the horsemen, but Ghanem, who claimed to have known the bey Togai in his youth, proclaimed his intent to find peace between them and the raiders. Both brothers grudgingly agreed, and allowed their father to visit the bey in an offer of peace.

 

The friendship proved true and peace was made between their one tribe and the horselords, but upon full neutrality from their bloody wars with their neighboring peoples and kinsmen. The chiefs fought this, for they saw it as a betrayal of their brothers, but the influence of their father was immense, and the councillors looked to Ghanem before their elected chiefs. Istifaan accepted bitterly while his brother Al-Seanniya lashed out, storming out of the council room in rage. Yet the decision stood, and the tribe came under tribute to the tarchar suzerain.

 

All around them, qali village after qali village fell, and Togai Bey advanced his conquests mercilessly and without restraint. Everytime the tarchars came to the village Ghanem the Wise came to meet them, and with his honeyed words and silver-tongue he convinced them to spare the village each time. With this responsibility came great power, and soon both chief brothers were seemingly ignored as the people came to Ghanem for their woes and not them. The meek Istifaan grew resentful yet could not bring anger against his father, while the bold al-Seanniya eventually left his village with loyalists of his own to help defend his brothers of the desert villages. Istifaan wished to join him and told his father, but Ghanem forbid such.

 

While the village survived for some years and those around did not, Ghanem being an older man of his day passed away in the mid-summer’s night. The village was distraught and mourned for their lost elder, and with Al-Seanniya gone in exile to fight for the cause of the qali, Istifaan took full control. But while Ghanem was wise in life and led his village to glory, he let not his sons command and gain the respect of rule. Many doubted his worth, and when the tarchars eventually came down to his village, Istifaan had not the words of Ghanem to help him. Unprepared and without their allies around them, the village came under sack numerous times, before eventually being massacred in the bloodlust of Togai Bey.

 

Ghanem was wise in life, but never thought of the future. He knew of his skills in diplomacy and personal connection with the killers, and used such for his advantage, but thought not of when he was gone. Instead of allowing his sons to drive off the attackers when the qali were strong and plentiful, he hid behind his friendships and personal relations; things which his successor did not have. Instead of establishing a future for his people without the need of his involvement, he made himself the cornerstone, and when such stone fell from the arch, the entire foundation came tumbling down.

 

Our chance to finally change the world and yet, like Ghanem, you see only in the present and not the future. You see me as some great tyrant, an interloper on your sovereignty, yet time after time I have met with your emissaries and king, and time after time have I made concessions, from the further declaration of rights to multiple marriages with my house. But like qali against the vile Togai Bey, every tribe must band together else eventually, else no matter in a year or thirty, all will fall under their wretched grasp.

 

That is why to this decree, I say this: our Revolution is a Revolution of all humanity, and therefore requires all to its banner to fight against the Pertinaxi dogs. You may threaten me with war, and while you chant peace, I know your ultimate desire: the self-preservation and validation of your position, to not be shunned and retain yourself as elder amongst your people. You see the world through the hole of a shoe rather than the full landscape before us, and when you have passed and the new generation has taken its place, it shall fall like Istifaan on the Field of Araf.

 

I was once like this, absorbed in the now and not of the bigger painting before us. I have seen the previous lives of those long past in my dreams, and I have seen the danger this behavior and thought provides. From the Haeseni king Stephen who thought only of his realm and left his compatriot Robert de Marna to death and the cur of Mardon on the throne to King Arn and the destruction of his very realm. This provincial thinking, where we see only one part of humanity and not the whole, must end. We must create a world from the ashes, not allow the same tarchars to raid and divide us like cattle.

 

We must stand united.

 

That is why I, Emperor Joseph, respectfully decline your ultimatum and request of independence. Seek the true wisdom of the future and not false self-preservation and come together in common liberty against the dark heart of the Pertinaxi. I know any previous relation means nothing now, but if not through such, do it through the thought of the days long past your time.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

Upon the day of our Lord GOD,

27^th OWYN’S FLAME 1717

 

Joseph I, Holy Orenian Emperor”

[JokerLow 1317]

Hekkaes Goldhand says “Noice.”

[seannie 7443]

I feel personally attacked 

[1_Language_1 1671]

Matthias mouths an 'oh ****' upon reading this. He knew how /strongly/ and how detemined Curon would fight for their independence. He only hopes they don't accept the honeyed lies of Godfrey III if he offered independence.

[Dawsy 222]

“No.” Charles would say

[Blanchables 528]

“Who the **** is Charles Wright?” Graham thought to himself.

[KosherZombie 1772]

7 minutes ago, yopplwasupxxx said:

To Mister Charles Wright,

 

“Who?”

[Sheczar 378]

1 hour ago, KosherZombie said:

“Who?”

“Clearly the Baron of Massachusetts.”

[Guest]

Princess Evie brow furrows "Ecbert said, this Arthos, is no Devereux. He showed up from no where, he is an imposter. Celeste is my witness to my late brothers words" she utters as she remains in her home. 

[Sultan 3953]

“Ah, when what you preach no longer suits your purpose you start to bite your own tail, a snake colored in a different light is a snake still.”

 

He scoffed lightly. “liberty he said. Hah! A good joke. While it lasted from the whoresons mouth.”

[Ivoreyy 2303]

Anabel ‘oos’

 

 

[adamc2000 1385]

Auda kharadeen at his old age upon reading this letter look to his fellow brother and sisters "By Allah! Those who attempt to claim that it was he who united the farfolks then Faiz Kharadeen is a Kazzab! Oh people! Remember Allah has forbid you to lie! Unless he seek forgiveness from Allah the Almighty! On the day of judgement Allah will grab his sinful forelock and cast him into the fire!! Oh my beloved people! Stay away from such people and do not lie! Remeber our prophet teaching! 'Wa Kitab al salaam al Haqq!' The book is truth! Come let us eat bismillah." He says breaking his fast at iftar time

[Auriel_ 652]

(im unsure if you meant to use someones ooc name but if u did it was p funny)

 

“I know not the concepts of self-preservation and cultural standing in these lands it still seems foreign to me.”

Some idiot mercenary.

[ibraheemc2000 2965]

Caliph Abbas Kharadeen writes a response

 

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.