You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.” ((How do you respond?))
[By the descending star, your compatriot is neither in error, nor is he deceived… He was taught by one who is great and powerful...] The La'na, Sura 53:1,2,5
"....", He hesitated in speaking, given no clear understanding of what the 'Old Hag' may have spoken. Majaa eyeing the hag as he reluctantly takes a seat.
He opened his mouth, only to close a short moment after. His brows furrowed in thought, not wishing to spare commentary. Staring idly toward the Old Hag, before he backed out of the tent... The air buzzed with shouts and percussive words as his cronies pointed and nodded while they debated amongst themselves.
The cronies milled about the Old Hag, scanning the sight of an appearance of such foreign and muttering to each other. Someone made a joke and they all laughed. "Why would Majaa wish to seek your blessings? For he is the Hual Hadi" he asked. "Stay your tongue or I'll feed it to the cats ..." Majaa snapped. Majaa paused, casting a critical eye over her, instructing his men to maintain close guard. He brushed his hand over his beard, cleaning away a crust of embedded grit. Majaa started to reach inside his garment, reaching in himself. He retrieved a small bent piece of parchment, folded and fastened shut by a wax seal impressed with the sign of the house of an clan once considered as his home. He tore the official seal off the correspondence, hastily unfolded it, and viewed the contents. Majaa recited the notes content slowly:
"Our forces ... suffered a major reverse at the hands of the ...."
"The restive factions in ... were ... more encouraged to disregard ... authority"
"Few .... unquestionably recognized .... claim to be Hual Hadi..."
"False prophet... a barbarian... from .... these men are of his ... people."
"May Allah' bless ... my son and provide him the rewards of this life and the next..."
The strengthening wind blew funnels of dust up from the ground and obscured his vision...
