AWWA-Yesterday, Today, and Forever(IC-Closed)

[Shrillland]

"That is all right, Maritza, I know that feeling all too well." Victoria said, "I've been so busy with my family and the Dutch affairs that I haven't been able to see you yet. Though, I have heard that Tawantinsuyu has been...uneasy at the moment with the unpleasantness in Guyane and Venezuela. I did wonder if you would be able to attend with that and as you are so heavy with child. The main celebrations are still a fortnight away, and many of our dominion leaders have almost considered going back to their homes, especially my good friend Teddy."

[Unicario]

"That is all right, Maritza, I know that feeling all too well." Victoria said, "I've been so busy with my family and the Dutch affairs that I haven't been able to see you yet. Though, I have heard that Tawantinsuyu has been...uneasy at the moment with the unpleasantness in Guyane and Venezuela. I did wonder if you would be able to attend with that and as you are so heavy with child. The main celebrations are still a fortnight away, and many of our dominion leaders have almost considered going back to their homes, especially my good friend Teddy."

Maritza shook her head gingerly, "I don't think it warrants returning home. The trip is far too long to make at such a whim. I'll be fine, your Majesty. The baby is not due for some time yet."

[Bojikami]

Bengt took the stones in his hand and looked at them as the cheif explained the meaning of each stone. "Ah yes. I am familiar with Odin and the others. Despite paganism having been long gone in Sweden, my father always told me the storied of the gods when I was young." He went on to explain his life as a sailor in the Swedish Navy and his ventures across the world.

"You know, I'm sure this nation could become wealthy off of resources that could be underground and from Tourism. Your people won't have to sacrifice their ways either." He stated while handing the runestones to one of his men behind them. "I understand your peoples fears of being forcibly converted, but catholicism isn't as expansionist as it once was. Its all pushed apart into factions and conflicting with itself constantly. Europe itself just got through the bloodles war in history."

He explained his life as a chief. He said, "When I was young, life was hard. I had to learn how to behave morally upright, how to be good chief, all the legends, how to properly conduct many of the traditions and how to hunt." He explained his spirit quest, and that his spirit animal was a polar bear.

When he heard of that, he said, "Maybe it will. Maybe we will grow rich off of fish and tourism. But underground? What underground? We have no real resource for us to speak of, save for fish, meat, and furs. But it'd be worth looking at before dismissing it all."

"Indeed." Bengt began. "If Oil is underground, you can be sure of an increase of wealth. Such a resource is valuable, and has been for some times. Even in times of apparent peace, the nations across the world need oil to fuel their war machines and their industrial buildings." He took out a camera. "I wish to take photographs, as proof to my king that there is indeed civilisation in Greenland. I could also tell traders in Sweden and around the world about this great land, as I am sure its uniqueness will attract many visitors and those wishing to make a fortune here."

[Luziyca]

He explained his life as a chief. He said, "When I was young, life was hard. I had to learn how to behave morally upright, how to be good chief, all the legends, how to properly conduct many of the traditions and how to hunt." He explained his spirit quest, and that his spirit animal was a polar bear.

When he heard of that, he said, "Maybe it will. Maybe we will grow rich off of fish and tourism. But underground? What underground? We have no real resource for us to speak of, save for fish, meat, and furs. But it'd be worth looking at before dismissing it all."

"Indeed." Bengt began. "If Oil is underground, you can be sure of an increase of wealth. Such a resource is valuable, and has been for some times. Even in times of apparent peace, the nations across the world need oil to fuel their war machines and their industrial buildings." He took out a camera. "I wish to take photographs, as proof to my king that there is indeed civilisation in Greenland. I could also tell traders in Sweden and around the world about this great land, as I am sure its uniqueness will attract many visitors and those wishing to make a fortune here."

The chief nodded to the first bit. But to the second, he went pale. He said, "Oh Gods. They have protected us from harm, yet retard our development and make us uncivilized. No matter," his face returning to normal, "you can do so."

[Bojikami]

"Indeed." Bengt began. "If Oil is underground, you can be sure of an increase of wealth. Such a resource is valuable, and has been for some times. Even in times of apparent peace, the nations across the world need oil to fuel their war machines and their industrial buildings." He took out a camera. "I wish to take photographs, as proof to my king that there is indeed civilisation in Greenland. I could also tell traders in Sweden and around the world about this great land, as I am sure its uniqueness will attract many visitors and those wishing to make a fortune here."

The chief nodded to the first bit. But to the second, he went pale. He said, "Oh Gods. They have protected us from harm, yet retard our development and make us uncivilized. No matter," his face returning to normal, "you can do so."

"Thank you friend." He said and placed a hand on the cheifs shoulder. "It is fine. Things shall change for the better. I'm sure I can even talk to my King about assisting you in building a proper trading port so that larger ships may dock there and will not need to row to your shores." As he said this he took photographs of the hut and the village from the doorway.

[Luziyca]

The chief nodded to the first bit. But to the second, he went pale. He said, "Oh Gods. They have protected us from harm, yet retard our development and make us uncivilized. No matter," his face returning to normal, "you can do so."

"Thank you friend." He said and placed a hand on the cheifs shoulder. "It is fine. Things shall change for the better. I'm sure I can even talk to my King about assisting you in building a proper trading port so that larger ships may dock there and will not need to row to your shores." As he said this he took photographs of the hut and the village from the doorway.

He thanked him and stared onto the camera as that photo was taken. He then said, "I shall accept your offer to build a proper port. As a matter of fact, I will send a man to Sweden to learn the ways of your people and bring back information about your country, so that we can learn." Already, he can imagine a way of linking each town so that instead of going by sleigh, on foot, or by boat, one can go overland.

[Bojikami]

"Thank you friend." He said and placed a hand on the cheifs shoulder. "It is fine. Things shall change for the better. I'm sure I can even talk to my King about assisting you in building a proper trading port so that larger ships may dock there and will not need to row to your shores." As he said this he took photographs of the hut and the village from the doorway.

He thanked him and stared onto the camera as that photo was taken. He then said, "I shall accept your offer to build a proper port. As a matter of fact, I will send a man to Sweden to learn the ways of your people and bring back information about your country, so that we can learn." Already, he can imagine a way of linking each town so that instead of going by sleigh, on foot, or by boat, one can go overland.

"Ah, alright. Just think friend, in a few years I can see this island being filled with goods, both domestic and foreign and your people walking down the streets and roads of large towns and port cities. I'll tell you what friend, in a few years, when I finally retire from the Navy I'll come and pay this land a visit. I hope to see you then. " Bengt nodded. "Now, who would this man or woman that shall be accompanying us back in Stockholm?"

[Luziyca]

He thanked him and stared onto the camera as that photo was taken. He then said, "I shall accept your offer to build a proper port. As a matter of fact, I will send a man to Sweden to learn the ways of your people and bring back information about your country, so that we can learn." Already, he can imagine a way of linking each town so that instead of going by sleigh, on foot, or by boat, one can go overland.

"Ah, alright. Just think friend, in a few years I can see this island being filled with goods, both domestic and foreign and your people walking down the streets and roads of large towns and port cities. I'll tell you what friend, in a few years, when I finally retire from the Navy I'll come and pay this land a visit. I hope to see you then. " Bengt nodded. "Now, who would this man or woman that shall be accompanying us back in Stockholm?"

He nodded. "That man," the chief said... he exited the hut and saw a merchant returning home, carrying furs.

"You," the chief said. "You have done quite well on trading goods for fifteen years."
"Indeed, Chief. I am about to trade these goods. Why?" that fellow replied.
"You need to go. You need to go to a far-away land, with that man here," the chief said, pointing to the Swede. "You must learn the way of those people, to help modernize and develop this land and bring forth prosperity."
"If you insist," he said with guilt. He didn't want to go, but he didn't want to risk offending the chief. He headed towards the Swede.

The chief said to Bengt, "That boy is the one. He must spend at least a year in Sweden, to learn the ways of the people and to prove that we exist."

[Bojikami]

"Ah, alright. Just think friend, in a few years I can see this island being filled with goods, both domestic and foreign and your people walking down the streets and roads of large towns and port cities. I'll tell you what friend, in a few years, when I finally retire from the Navy I'll come and pay this land a visit. I hope to see you then. " Bengt nodded. "Now, who would this man or woman that shall be accompanying us back in Stockholm?"

He nodded. "That man," the chief said... he exited the hut and saw a merchant returning home, carrying furs.

"You," the chief said. "You have done quite well on trading goods for fifteen years."
"Indeed, Chief. I am about to trade these goods. Why?" that fellow replied.
"You need to go. You need to go to a far-away land, with that man here," the chief said, pointing to the Swede. "You must learn the way of those people, to help modernize and develop this land and bring forth prosperity."
"If you insist," he said with guilt. He didn't want to go, but he didn't want to risk offending the chief. He headed towards the Swede.

The chief said to Bengt, "That boy is the one. He must spend at least a year in Sweden, to learn the ways of the people and to prove that we exist."

"Ah, hello then." Bengt shook his hand. "I am Captain Bengt Gunvaldsson of his majesty's Oscar II's navy. I was sent to this great land to learn about your people. On the way to Sweden, I'll have Arthursson over here teach you the basics of Swedish on the way there.But I am getting ahead if myself," He paused. "What is your name, son? I'll need to know when I introduce you to the King.

[Luziyca]

He nodded. "That man," the chief said... he exited the hut and saw a merchant returning home, carrying furs.

"You," the chief said. "You have done quite well on trading goods for fifteen years."
"Indeed, Chief. I am about to trade these goods. Why?" that fellow replied.
"You need to go. You need to go to a far-away land, with that man here," the chief said, pointing to the Swede. "You must learn the way of those people, to help modernize and develop this land and bring forth prosperity."
"If you insist," he said with guilt. He didn't want to go, but he didn't want to risk offending the chief. He headed towards the Swede.

The chief said to Bengt, "That boy is the one. He must spend at least a year in Sweden, to learn the ways of the people and to prove that we exist."

"Ah, hello then." Bengt shook his hand. "I am Captain Bengt Gunvaldsson of his majesty's Oscar II's navy. I was sent to this great land to learn about your people. On the way to Sweden, I'll have Arthursson over here teach you the basics of Swedish on the way there.But I am getting ahead if myself," He paused. "What is your name, son? I'll need to know when I introduce you to the King.

He said, "Among the settled folk, I am Hunter. Among the nomads, I am Fisher, and among other merchants, I am called Brave. I have no real name to speak of: we Greenlanders either are called by an attribute of our personality, or by our occupation."

The chief nodded: "I wish that boy well."

[Bojikami]

"Ah, hello then." Bengt shook his hand. "I am Captain Bengt Gunvaldsson of his majesty's Oscar II's navy. I was sent to this great land to learn about your people. On the way to Sweden, I'll have Arthursson over here teach you the basics of Swedish on the way there.But I am getting ahead if myself," He paused. "What is your name, son? I'll need to know when I introduce you to the King.

He said, "Among the settled folk, I am Hunter. Among the nomads, I am Fisher, and among other merchants, I am called Brave. I have no real name to speak of: we Greenlanders either are called by an attribute of our personality, or by our occupation."

The chief nodded: "I wish that boy well."

"Then we shall be off then, Brave." Bengt nods. "Gather your things. I shall meet you by the shore, near our ship. That massive thing over there." Bengt pointed to the Swedish ship. "It was good to meet you, Cheif. I wish you and your people well." He and his men make their way back to the small rowboat they used to approach to coast.

[Luziyca]

He said, "Among the settled folk, I am Hunter. Among the nomads, I am Fisher, and among other merchants, I am called Brave. I have no real name to speak of: we Greenlanders either are called by an attribute of our personality, or by our occupation."

The chief nodded: "I wish that boy well."

"Then we shall be off then, Brave." Bengt nods. "Gather your things. I shall meet you by the shore, near our ship. That massive thing over there." Bengt pointed to the Swedish ship. "It was good to meet you, Cheif. I wish you and your people well." He and his men make their way back to the small rowboat they used to approach to coast.

Iqsituittuq which means Brave said, "Alright." He headed to his home and got his clothes, and a set of candles like those that Bengt saw in the King's home so he could still pray to the Gods.

"Same with you," the chief says.

[Bojikami]

"Then we shall be off then, Brave." Bengt nods. "Gather your things. I shall meet you by the shore, near our ship. That massive thing over there." Bengt pointed to the Swedish ship. "It was good to meet you, Cheif. I wish you and your people well." He and his men make their way back to the small rowboat they used to approach to coast.

Iqsituittuq which means Brave said, "Alright." He headed to his home and got his clothes, and a set of candles like those that Bengt saw in the King's home so he could still pray to the Gods.

"Same with you," the chief says.

Bengt and his men waited back at the rowboat for the boy, anxiously awaiting their return to home.

Kiev, Ukraine-Romania

The streets of Kiev were bustling as usual with merchants and the peasants walking up and down its streets, but unbeknownst to the people, vile acts were underway within Kiev's courtrooms. Over the past few weeks a set of trials were underway convicting Crimeans that lived within the city and its surrounding areas of various crimes, many of which resulted in deportation to "Isolation Prisons", large facilities with barbed wire fences and guarded by Ukrainian secret police officers. It was today, however that Aydim Zöfär was convicted of rape, and sentenced to death my public execution by firing squad.

When Aydim was brought to the square and the Ukrainian ZE officers raised their weapons, aimed, and before they could pull the trigger, Aydim shouted "How do you let this happen? Don't you know that god damns all-" his speech was suddenly cut off by the thundering of gun shots, Aydim crumpled to the ground and died, in a puddle of his own blood.

The execution of Aydim served as a symbol in the empire for the muslims within to rally behind. Many saw Oleksandr's actions as repressive and dangerous to their future. Whatever the Ukrainians were heading too, was likely to be a slaughter the likes of which the world has seldom seen.

[Shrillland]

Buckingham Palace
London

"That is good to hear, Maritza," Victoria said, "And your husband is doing well from what I understand, if you need anything, just let me know. I must go and see the Empress of Rum."

And with that, Victoria went to see her other distinguished guest.

Georgetown, West Guyane

The Canadian forces had finally punched a hole in the Communist lines and were flooding northward into the heart of the city. Fierce battles were now ensuing outside of Parliament and the Supreme Court.

[Unicario]

Buckingham Palace

Aysun of Rum was sitting in her room reading Ludwig Eichemann's newest novel, which had been published recently.

---

Lyon, France

Ferdinand Foch and his associates had gathered in another city of France. They had assembled as their benefactors in Rome had promised them a "shipment" from their "brothers in arms" in Ruthenia. They waited late at night for the train to come in.

[Bojikami]

Buckingham Palace

Aysun of Rum was sitting in her room reading Ludwig Eichemann's newest novel, which had been published recently.

---

Lyon, France

Ferdinand Foch and his associates had gathered in another city of France. They had assembled as their benefactors in Rome had promised them a "shipment" from their "brothers in arms" in Ruthenia. They waited late at night for the train to come in.

Lyon, France

The train, marked as an Italian storage freighter pulled into the station. After a few moments of searching around, four Ruthenian ZE officers stepped out and flanked the doorway, followed by two more officers bringing in crates marked "Pomodori" (Tomatoes). Another Ruthenian officer stepped out, this one dressed slightly differently than the others. "Привіт." The officer said as he walked out and outreached his hand. "You must be Mr. Foch, I am Komandyr Roth of this ZE unit. I am pleased to meet you."

---

Atlantic Sea

It had only been an hour since the Swedes and the Greenlander boy left the island, but Arthursson was already busy with him in the ship's lower decks teaching him the very basics of the Swedish language and how to properly greet someone in Swedish.

[Unicario]

Buckingham Palace

Aysun of Rum was sitting in her room reading Ludwig Eichemann's newest novel, which had been published recently.

---

Lyon, France

Ferdinand Foch and his associates had gathered in another city of France. They had assembled as their benefactors in Rome had promised them a "shipment" from their "brothers in arms" in Ruthenia. They waited late at night for the train to come in.

Lyon, France

The train, marked as an Italian storage freighter pulled into the station. After a few moments of searching around, four Ruthenian ZE officers stepped out and flanked the doorway, followed by two more officers bringing in crates marked "Pomodori" (Tomatoes). Another Ruthenian officer stepped out, this one dressed slightly differently than the others. "Привіт." The officer said as he walked out and outreached his hand. "You must be Mr. Foch, I am Komandyr Roth of this ZE unit. I am pleased to meet you."

Foch grinned, "Commandant Foch. But it is a pleasure to meet you, Komandyr Roth." He switched to Ukrainian and shook the man's hand. "The trip from Kiev must have been extremely long. I hope you did not encounter any... problems along the way." He looked at the boxes. "Are these them?"

A woman standing not far from Foch, pulled out a silver lighter and lit a cigarette. The woman was wearing the uniform of the Fascist Front, a gray shirt, black pants, black combat boots, and she had an armband wrapped around her upper arm. It was white and bore the insignia of the Imperial Legion, which had taken the form of the Lorraine Cross. She was an 18 year old engineer. Her name was Solange Glaisyer. She was a Noirs de France, and her thick, dark hair was tied up in a braid, hidden underneath a gray military helmet. She spoke, "Monsieur Roth, I take it we will be seeing more of you in our neck of the woods." She grinned, and extended a hand, "Solange Glaisyer, leading engineer for the Fascist Front. Raised Roman Catholic, but, no longer... I have my reasons." The French Algerian woman flashed a smile at Roth, one that reminded one of a snake ready to strike.

[Bojikami]

Lyon, France

The train, marked as an Italian storage freighter pulled into the station. After a few moments of searching around, four Ruthenian ZE officers stepped out and flanked the doorway, followed by two more officers bringing in crates marked "Pomodori" (Tomatoes). Another Ruthenian officer stepped out, this one dressed slightly differently than the others. "Привіт." The officer said as he walked out and outreached his hand. "You must be Mr. Foch, I am Komandyr Roth of this ZE unit. I am pleased to meet you."

Foch grinned, "Commandant Foch. But it is a pleasure to meet you, Komandyr Roth." He switched to Ukrainian and shook the man's hand. "The trip from Kiev must have been extremely long. I hope you did not encounter any... problems along the way." He looked at the boxes. "Are these them?"

A woman standing not far from Foch, pulled out a silver lighter and lit a cigarette. The woman was wearing the uniform of the Fascist Front, a gray shirt, black pants, black combat boots, and she had an armband wrapped around her upper arm. It was white and bore the insignia of the Imperial Legion, which had taken the form of the Lorraine Cross. She was an 18 year old engineer. Her name was Solange Glaisyer. She was a Noirs de France, and her thick, dark hair was tied up in a braid, hidden underneath a gray military helmet. She spoke, "Monsieur Roth, I take it we will be seeing more of you in our neck of the woods." She grinned, and extended a hand, "Solange Glaisyer, leading engineer for the Fascist Front. Raised Roman Catholic, but, no longer... I have my reasons." The French Algerian woman flashed a smile at Roth, one that reminded one of a snake ready to strike.

"Ah, yes. We were subject to a few searches in Italy, but once we told them who we were, they let us through." Roth said as he looked around, noticed the empty streets and opened one of the crates. "A good old Kostiuk-2, freshly made from the Poltava Arms factory."

He also noticed the woman. "Ah, another comrade in this fight against the republican lies I see. I am not very religious myself, I was raised Jewish but my faith waned the more entranced I became in sciences and the military. I assume you also have a military background like Commandant Foch here?"

[Unicario]

Foch grinned, "Commandant Foch. But it is a pleasure to meet you, Komandyr Roth." He switched to Ukrainian and shook the man's hand. "The trip from Kiev must have been extremely long. I hope you did not encounter any... problems along the way." He looked at the boxes. "Are these them?"

A woman standing not far from Foch, pulled out a silver lighter and lit a cigarette. The woman was wearing the uniform of the Fascist Front, a gray shirt, black pants, black combat boots, and she had an armband wrapped around her upper arm. It was white and bore the insignia of the Imperial Legion, which had taken the form of the Lorraine Cross. She was an 18 year old engineer. Her name was Solange Glaisyer. She was a Noirs de France, and her thick, dark hair was tied up in a braid, hidden underneath a gray military helmet. She spoke, "Monsieur Roth, I take it we will be seeing more of you in our neck of the woods." She grinned, and extended a hand, "Solange Glaisyer, leading engineer for the Fascist Front. Raised Roman Catholic, but, no longer... I have my reasons." The French Algerian woman flashed a smile at Roth, one that reminded one of a snake ready to strike.

"Ah, yes. We were subject to a few searches in Italy, but once we told them who we were, they let us through." Roth said as he looked around, noticed the empty streets and opened one of the crates. "A good old Kostiuk-2, freshly made from the Poltava Arms factory."

He also noticed the woman. "Ah, another comrade in this fight against the republican lies I see. I am not very religious myself, I was raised Jewish but my faith waned the more entranced I became in sciences and the military. I assume you also have a military background like Commandant Foch here?"

Foch grinned ear to ear, "Oh, magnifique. We will have many uses for these. I assume you recieved our payment?"

Solange shook her head, "No, I've never been in the military -- France doesn't let women serve. I was raised as a second-class citizen in Algeria and lived in a Catholic boarding school until I was 13... then, well... I was raped by the missionary, and then sent away to a convent in France. It wasn't long after that, the Italians took the town. I used the chaos of the fall of the town to escape my captivity, and I made my way here to Lyon... I've been living here ever since, working as an engineer for the fascists."

[Bojikami]

"Ah, yes. We were subject to a few searches in Italy, but once we told them who we were, they let us through." Roth said as he looked around, noticed the empty streets and opened one of the crates. "A good old Kostiuk-2, freshly made from the Poltava Arms factory."

He also noticed the woman. "Ah, another comrade in this fight against the republican lies I see. I am not very religious myself, I was raised Jewish but my faith waned the more entranced I became in sciences and the military. I assume you also have a military background like Commandant Foch here?"

Foch grinned ear to ear, "Oh, magnifique. We will have many uses for these. I assume you recieved our payment?"

Solange shook her head, "No, I've never been in the military -- France doesn't let women serve. I was raised as a second-class citizen in Algeria and lived in a Catholic boarding school until I was 13... then, well... I was raped by the missionary, and then sent away to a convent in France. It wasn't long after that, the Italians took the town. I used the chaos of the fall of the town to escape my captivity, and I made my way here to Lyon... I've been living here ever since, working as an engineer for the fascists."

Roth gave an assuring nod to Foch and listened to Solange's story. "Well, then you must be pleased with the downfall of this pretentious republic then, as am I, as are the Italians and my comrades back home. Fascism is taking a steep rise in power, something the democracies and constitutionalised monarchs must shudder when they hear. Now, have also heard rumors of the possible uprising in Spain as well. Apparently the Muslims aren't taking too kindly to being hung and shot by the inquisition. I don't blame them, hell, I'm sure that if we were still with the Russians the same would occur to us."

[Ruridova]

Bir Moghrein, Mauritania
June 2, 1897

Uqba ould Hammad Amajegh knew the history and tenets of Shurism quite well. Indeed, the majority of Mauritanians were Shurist- the only country where this was the case. Shurism had been founded in 1860 by Fahd al-Massoum of al-Ayun, who began preaching his own sect of Islam, known as Shurism from the Arabic shurah, meaning traders, chosen because al-Massoum said that they would trade al-Dunyah, mortal life, for al-Aakhirah, the afterlife. His sayings would eventually be compiled in the Rasa'il al-Hikma(Epistles of Wisdom). There are Seven Pillars that one must follow: Shahadah(the declaration that there is no God but God, that Muhammad is his prophet, and that the Grand Mufti is his representative); Salat(ritual prayer five times a day); Zakat(giving some of your savings to the poor; Shurism has no set value, simply saying that one should give as much as one can); Khums(giving a fifth of your income to the church-state, so that it may use it to do good); Sawm(fasting during the month of Ramadan, and attempting to control yourself year-round); Hajj(traveling to Mecca at least once in your lifetime); and Jihad(struggling against evil through three means: jihad by the hand, through doing good deeds; jihad by the heart, attempting to be a better Muslim; and jihad by the word, preaching Islam). They placed works as equal to faith, and stressed the inherent good of Allah and mankind. When the French had tried to persecute the religion, al-Massoum had led the rebellion to victory, becoming the first Grand Mufti of Mauritania. The Calipha Adile had declared all Shurists to be takfir(excommunication) and declared Shurism to be kafir(heretical), probably because it rejected her authority in favor of the Grand Mufti. But the Mauritanians had kept on, and now the overwhelming majority of Mauritanians were Shurist.

And Amajegh liked most of that, except for one little thing... he wasn't huge on the clergy. Amajegh(and many of his fellow Berbers) viewed the clergy as something that inhibited an individual's spirituality. As such, he had written a book, al-Risalah al-Nahj(a Treatise on the Way). In it, he emphasized the need for an individual's personal relationship with spirituality and faith, saying that, while a minimal clergy could help inspire others on their searches for truth, they must allow the individual to have their own independent relationship with the divine. He begins spreading it by word of mouth among the Berbers, and eventually gets it published for wider circulation. As he accumulated followers, he decides to name his new branch of Shurism Haqiqism after the Arabic word haqiqah- supreme truth.

Soon, Haqiqism has overtaken Shurism as the primary religion of the Berbers. The Grand Muftiate, noticing that it rejects very few of Shurism's principles(and knowing that serious trouble might ensue if they tried to suppress it), decide to tolerate Haqiqism, though they continue to maintain that mainline Shurism is the correct path.

[Shrillland]

"Ah, fair Empress," Victoria said as she entered Aysun's quarters, "I trust the journey was not too hard?"

[Unicario]

"Ah, fair Empress," Victoria said as she entered Aysun's quarters, "I trust the journey was not too hard?"

"Not too hard indeed." She replied, looking over at the Queen. She frowned some and said, "Do you mind if I ask you a rather personal family question, Your Majesty?"

[Shrillland]

Victoria simply said, "Ask what you will."

[Unicario]

Victoria simply said, "Ask what you will."

The Caliph pulled out a small leather-bound book. "I found this underneath the bed here... it... says something that I don't know if I can believe. It's sixty years old, and was written by... my mother... her name, Adile Osman, is engraved in the leather binding."

She opened the book and translated, "Iskender Yematai will soon be a father. His eldest child will be a bastard; how should I tell him? What will I tell my child? What will I tell the Rumite people... I shall not tell them anything at all, I shall carry this secret and stain to my grave -- my child... our child, should not have to pay for our sins of lust."

She closed the book. "It was written shortly before I was born... i--" She hesitated. The 58 year old Caliph of Islam looked at the 78 year old Queen of Great Britain and asked, "...Is Emperor Alexander my father?"