Eternity RPC Board
08-05-2018, 03:00 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-05-2018, 03:03 AM by Seperallis.)
Winter: 6 March, 1780
Agha Mohammad watched the masons work, cutting and placing the stones for the new temple in Tehran. He pulled his wrappings tighter around himself against the late winter chill and inspected the work: an octagonal ring had already been laid and started its climb for a few feet, but going was slow as is typicaly when working with stone, and hampered still by the earlier snow. In the middle of the structure a tomb had been built, done quickly last fall before the onset of the frozen weather.
This was the tomb of Karim Khan Zand, the great administrator and leader of men who had founded the Zand rulership, and whose death saw Iran torn apart once more. After defeating Lotf Ali and securing Shiraz, the Qajar king had ordered the body of the once-great man exhumed and brought here, where he might honor it properly near his court.
Even though Mohammad was for all intents and purposes Karim Khan's prisoner for nearly 20 years, he was never treated as anything less than an honored guest, lavished with hospitality and even serving as the Zand king's most trusted state advisor. Had Karim lived a thousand years Mohammad would have been happy to serve his lot to such a grand man, yet instead we are here, not quite six years after his death and nearly the entire Zand family wiped out in warfare and fratricide. As such a great man, Karim inspired others, and they gave him their best face in kind; as a result, he saw the best of people, including the family whom he trusted.
Gazing now on the tomb of Karim, Mohammad resolved not to make the same mistake.
"Hajji."
Shorter, stouter and with a full beard to his king's boyish face, the grand vizier of the Qajars stood apart from his khan. While at court in Tehran, Mohammad was rarely without his most trusted advisor, and even on the campaign trail he was sure to follow. Now, he made his presence felt.
"Yes Khan, I am here for you."
Mohammad turned away from the tomb to address his advisor, his uncovered cheeks red from the winter air. "I have had my fill, let us return. I wish for you to summon the clan, as we have matters of state to settle."
"Yes my Khan, it shall be done."
Agha Mohammad watched the masons work, cutting and placing the stones for the new temple in Tehran. He pulled his wrappings tighter around himself against the late winter chill and inspected the work: an octagonal ring had already been laid and started its climb for a few feet, but going was slow as is typicaly when working with stone, and hampered still by the earlier snow. In the middle of the structure a tomb had been built, done quickly last fall before the onset of the frozen weather.
This was the tomb of Karim Khan Zand, the great administrator and leader of men who had founded the Zand rulership, and whose death saw Iran torn apart once more. After defeating Lotf Ali and securing Shiraz, the Qajar king had ordered the body of the once-great man exhumed and brought here, where he might honor it properly near his court.
Even though Mohammad was for all intents and purposes Karim Khan's prisoner for nearly 20 years, he was never treated as anything less than an honored guest, lavished with hospitality and even serving as the Zand king's most trusted state advisor. Had Karim lived a thousand years Mohammad would have been happy to serve his lot to such a grand man, yet instead we are here, not quite six years after his death and nearly the entire Zand family wiped out in warfare and fratricide. As such a great man, Karim inspired others, and they gave him their best face in kind; as a result, he saw the best of people, including the family whom he trusted.
Gazing now on the tomb of Karim, Mohammad resolved not to make the same mistake.
"Hajji."
Shorter, stouter and with a full beard to his king's boyish face, the grand vizier of the Qajars stood apart from his khan. While at court in Tehran, Mohammad was rarely without his most trusted advisor, and even on the campaign trail he was sure to follow. Now, he made his presence felt.
"Yes Khan, I am here for you."
Mohammad turned away from the tomb to address his advisor, his uncovered cheeks red from the winter air. "I have had my fill, let us return. I wish for you to summon the clan, as we have matters of state to settle."
"Yes my Khan, it shall be done."