“Uncle” — the Sultan’s father’s illegitimate half-brother, one of the most important men in the Kingdom, and the party’s patron.
What We Know
- His ayd- matronymic announces his illegitimacy (see Ethnicities of Hazad); he holds no landed title and currently no official position — yet he is one of Sultan Fahim’s closest advisors, wealthy, with properties and business interests throughout the realm.
- Runs Uncle’s Men, the Kingdom’s unofficial troubleshooters, through his son Ismad ibn-Salmaan.
- Widower — his late wife was Inaya al-Rabi (House al-Rabi).
- Personally briefed the party on The Recovered Documents and set their two standing assignments. Looked tired. (S2)
- Maajid, his eldest, is his chosen successor — and is the son focused on clandestine operations. (S6)
- He and Maajid took the party’s S6 report and produced, within a day: the 1720 massacre of House Bethlen (Constanza supposedly among the dead), Amalricht von-Haup as a magician capable of the Kraus’s Folly circle, Kristof Gruben, the suspicion that Estelle is Phoenix, and the identification of Benedicto Malipiero as the Most Holy’s younger brother. (S6)
- He personally remembered mention of the Order of the Phoenix using divination magic during the war, forty years ago — i.e. he was old enough to be paying attention during the Fourth Crusade. (S6)
- He has been cultivating Lusia Balventia for years. (S6)
- The party chose not to push for a direct meeting with him this session. (S6)
Relationships
- Sons: Maajid (1st, and his successor), Ismad ibn-Salmaan (2nd)
- Lusia Balventia — a long-term cultivation of his (S6)
Speculation
Uncle being “tired” while sitting on the secret of the Sultan’s poor health, a dead Crown Prince, and Phoenix infiltration — the man is holding the kingdom’s crisis portfolio. What else does he know that the party doesn’t?