Salim al'Bahram...widely known as the Arbitrator of Steel, Honored Scion of the Long-Enduring House Akhal-Teke, 16th in line of succession, Unwavering to His Friends, Unrepentant to His Enemies, Liberator of Kelmerane, Accomplished Aerialist, Scourge of the Burning Legion, Executor of Hormunxii, Docent of the Golden Balance, Prince-in-Absentia of the Lotus Triumvirate, and Shield-Brother of Harald Skoalsplattor!* Salim was sent on the expedition to liberate Kelmarane by his family, in order to position them for a lucrative trade deal once the town was open, and to redeem him for being something of an embarrassment to his family. Several years earlier, Salim ran away from home in order to participate in the Challenge of Sky and Heaven on the Island of Jalmeray. He advanced to the final rounds, but was found by his family's agents and dragged back to Qadira before he could complete the tournament. Before he went, he caught a glimpse of the swordsman he was to have fought — or rather, swordswoman. He only saw her eyes, staring at him over the edge of her veil, but he never forgot them. The woman's name was Haleen, and by coincidence she was staying at the Battle Market during Kardswaan's reign, attempting to pay off some debts. After Kelmarane was liberated, she and Salim traveled together for a while, but she ditched him in Sothis, making off with his clothes, his gold, and his purebred Akhal-Teke horse. After many months of chasing Haleen around the Inner Sea, Salim was summoned to his mother's house in Katheer. There she informed him that their family was still in dire financial straits. She had arranged Salim's marriage to Ashiri al'Qabib, the daughter of another noble house, whose dowry would be enough to finally bring them out of debt. Salim asked for two months to find enough money to pay the family's debt without going through with the marriage. His mother granted it, but warned that in two months and one day, she would expect Salim to do the right thing. Salim eventually reunited with Haleen in Katapesh, won her soul back in a high-stakes card game, and made enough extra that he was able to both pay off his family's debts and purchase a sailing ship. He has since retired from adventuring, and is now sailing the Inner Sea with his love. (*Previously known as the Cultivator of Steel, Citizen of Katheer, Scion of the Long-Enduring House Akhal-Teke, 23rd in line of succession, Accomplished Funambulist, Unwavering to His Friends, Unrepentant to His Enemies, Uncompromisingly Modest, Finalist in the Dangling Blade Duel at the Challenge of Sky and Heaven of the Year 4700 AR, Embarrassment to His Family, and Arbiter to the Pactmasters.) |
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