Samiyah

Samiyah bint Rasul
Created	July 18, 2010
Status	Active
Race	Human
Classes	Bard

Current Description:

Soft bells chime at the slight movement of the young woman before you. Her
face is modestly veiled, revealing only her dusky skin and dark eyes. Inky
black curly hair bound into twin braids frames her face. Exotic designs in
henna adorn her hands and bare feet. She bows slightly, causing the silver
ornaments in her hair and the bangles upon her wrists to chime once more.

'Peace be unto you and your house. I am Samiyah bint Rasul.'

WHO Lists:

3/6/2011 : Hum [ Bard:  10   6   5 ] Samiyah bint Rasul, seeking a Bardic Review
11/25/11 : Hum [ Bard:  11   7   7 ] Samiyah bint Rasul

Character History:

The nomadic tribes of the Great Eastern Desert have warred among themselves for centuries. Theirs is a harsh land, and child mortality rates are high due to the encroachment of bandits, rival tribes, and, of course, the desert itself. Children are prized... so long as they fall within the tribal definition of 'normal'.

Samiyah, daughter of Rasul, was born into a clan of goat herders. Her life was a quiet one, spent helping with the herd. She looked like the other children of the clan, with her dusky skin, dark eyes and hair. She played as they did, making games of things found in the desert. She learned, as they did, to avoid the scorpions and to read the patterns of the wind that hinted at the deadly sand-storms. If Samiyah never lost track of a goat in the dusk of sundown, or could whisper lullabies to calm the most fractious of children, it was not of particular notice. Girls were expected to do such things.

It was on the eve of her twelfth birthday that Samiyah's difference was discovered. It had been a difficult day, with a sand cat attack that morning. One of the younglings of the camp had been seriously injured at one of the more distant grazing grounds, and Samiyah was sent on the dangerous trek to the well for more water. Already tired and weary, she travelled a short distance out of camp and began to sing. She had realized, years before, that sometimes, if she sang just the _right_ song, that wonderful things would happen. Instinctively, she had known that this was a secret she needed to keep to herself. Protected from view by a large dune, she crouched in its shadow, dug a small hole and sang the bright, bubbling song that called forth water in a spring. It was her most sacred and magical song. Because they were so deep in the desert, it took several repetitions for the water to be called up, but finally, it filled the tiny basin se had created. She quenched her thirst, then filled each of the heavy camel-bladders with the crystal clear water.

Upon turning to head back to camp, she saw the horrified look of the tribal shaman, staring down at her from atop the dune. She was dragged back to the camp, and the 'magic-tainted' water dumped out so as not to curse any who might drink it. Samiyah was given over to the women, for careful watching. The Council met that night.

The dawn of the next day, Samiyah was stealthily awoken by her mother's harsh whisper. "You must come quickly, child. We must go." The two hurried out into the desert, not another word spoken. It was only when they were well away from the camp that Zahra broke her silence once more.

"You have a gift. They will tell you it is of the unclean spirits, but it is a gift." Zahra looked proudly down at her daughter, one hand cupping the girl's cheek. "Seek your songs. Sing with beauty and pride. And never, ever, let them tell you that it is wrong!" Her mother's words were emphatic, startling Samiyah into tears. "Now go! They will be after you when they find you gone. Seek the pathway through the hills. And may you ever have shade and sweet water, my beloved girl. Blessings upon you."

Zahra began to sing. Zahra, who never raised her voice at the campfire, who was mocked for the grating tone of her words. Voice uplifted in exquisite song, she wove a spell of invisibility over her shocked daughter. "Go," she murmured, giving one last, gentle caress of Samiyah's cheek. As the girl stood staring, her mother turned and headed back towards the camp, another tune calling winds that obliterated their tracks.

Days later, hungry - but not thirsty - she staggered into a village of very small, furry-toed people. The village echoed with song, and following the noise, met a brightly garbed woman who trilled melody as she strode along the Bywater. "Hi! I'm Cadee! I thought I heard another singer!" The girl took Samiyah's hand, pulling her along, talking excitedly all the while. "You must be from the desert, dressed like that. Well. The world's a lot bigger than the dunes, that's for sure! C'mon! I have so many things to show you!" ... And off they went.