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History
The
history of Masira is tied up intimately with the history of the Arabian
expansion into the southern Arabian states during the second half
of the 22nd Century. One by one Qatar, the UAE, Yemen and Oman were
absorbed into Arabia. The process was partly economic, partly a hold-over
from the French led occupation of the Arabian Peninsular and was predominantly
a peaceful process. However attempts to consolidate centralised control
from Riyadh and imposition of primacy of the Wahhabi sect of Islam
caused a reaction amongst the population.
The
Sultan of Oman maintained a policy of non-violent opposition whilst
parts of Dhofar and the Radfan were often openly in revolt. Eventually
after the death of the old Sultan, Riyadh backed forces in Muscat
launched a coup to overthrow the new Sultan Qaboos Ibn-Taimur, the
coup faltered but was eventually reinforced by Arabian forces. The
Sultan was dispatched to the prison island of al-Masirah whilst his
loyalist forces retreated to Dhofar. Eventually Arabian National Guard
and Army units pacified the Dhofaris, but after losing the fight in
Dhofar, loyalists staged a successful commando raid to free the Sultan
and followed him into exile. The Sultan was behind several uprisings
in Dhofar, Muscat and even in Dubai, all of which were doomed to failure.
The
British had become involved through their links with Oman and the
Sultan's residence in London. They were particularly embarrassed after
revelations of the Sultan's employment of British mercenaries. With
suffering in Oman rising steadily a Anglo-French diplomatic deal was
brokered in meetings in Gibraltar to allow those Omanis who wanted
to, to follow the Sultan into permanent exile on Tirane. The Sultan
would be allowed to develop an area of Wellon with a fair degree of
latitude about local laws and customs. With a heavy heart Sultan Qaboos
(later known as Qaboos I) and his household departed to Wellon on
a British colony ship in the summer of 2199.
What
he found was a what initial appeared as an unpromising area along
the coastline of the Golden Bay. A coastal strip fed by streams and
rivers coming down from high ground to the south which shielded it
from the worst of the Blight desert. However in terms of physical
beauty it was very pleasant, with the blue-green slopes of the Djebel
Azraq sheltering a glittering coastline. It was currently home to
a small group of FPK scientists and freelance petroleum prospectors.
Several of the Sultan's household became disenchanted but the Sultan
saw the potential of the location, and decided to put his substantial
finances to work in creating a new settlement. He was aided in this
with Colonial Office grants and expertise which was supplemented with
a large group of FPK specialists.
He
decided, with no little irony, to call the new settlement Al-Masirah,
which soon became anglicised to Masira. That first year 5000 colonists
arrived from Earth, shipped down the coast from the spaceport at New
Birmingham. They found a temporary camp, daily pre-dawn rainfall,
a large supply depot and little to do but get to work. Agriculture
was the first main effort and the rich wadis began to be cultivated.
Alongside workers from Colonial Engineering a start was made on the
heart of the new settlement with housing and buildings, including
a small mosque, being built. One of the greatest infrastructure programs
was the creation of a number of large subterranean aquifers at the
top of the Djebel, able to feed the wadis throughout the seasons and
Grandseasons.
This
small start in what was to become the Central district of Masira city
rapidly expanded with increasing numbers of Omanis arriving on Tirane
and moving to the newly declared Sultanate. The new settlement was
initially very poor, with the Sultan subsidising much of the housing
and infrastructure from his own financial resources. However agriculture
in the wadis and subsistence farming on the Djebel allowed the people
some self sufficiency, some aid was forthcoming from the South Albion
government and FPK but no more than allotted to any other similar
settlement. The Sultan found the poverty and task of building the
new community refreshing after his years of imprisonment and struggle
in exile. Indeed he allowed his support of the active resistance to
Arabian rule in Oman to ebb.
The
arriving colonists came from a variety of sources, predominantly from
Oman with the Dhofaris most strongly represented as well as a large
number of citizens of the city of Muscat. The first arrivals were
those most loyal to the Sultan, however after 2204 Arabian policy
in Oman began to force even larger numbers to Tirane. Ultimately nearly
400 000 Omanis emigrated to Tirane over the course of 20 years. The
Arabians took the opportunity to load large numbers of 'undesirables'
from other areas into the colonisation effort resulting in communities
from elsewhere in southern Arabia, the Gulf coast and Kuwait. This
policy was eventually rescinded but only after seeding Masira with
elements from these communities. Further emigration to the region
came from elsewhere in Wellon in response to economic growth in the
Sultanate. Low level colonisation direct from Islamic communities
on Earth has provided a steady trickle of new comers to the settlement
over the century.
After
ten years the settlement of Masira began to be able to stand on its
own two feet. Agriculture was fully operational having overcome the
disastrous harvests of 2204 and 2207. Infrastructure and basic services
and industries were formed and health and education facilities firmly
established. In 2211 the population was increasing so fast the New
Quarter was established as an area of cheap housing. Qaboos I initiated
a dialogue within the settlement as to what its higher purpose would
be. The ageing Sultan set forward a desire for Masira to be a catalyst
for a return to the Golden Age of liberal Islam and contributed to
the foundation of the Mouseion. Some of the more hard bitten Masirans,
as they now thought of themselves, were sceptical of the old man's
dreams but tentatively agreed that this was not a ignoble target to
aim for.
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The
Mouseion
The
Mouseion is the centrepiece of Islamic academia in the Sultanate.
It draws from the universities, mosques and the alim
of the Ulama and provides a place for debate and research on
a range of philosophical and religious issues. The Mouseion
also functions as a Foundation, providing funding for researchers
in a variety of disciplines from astronomy to literature. One
of the aims of the Mouseion is to help foster a resurrection
of the Golden Age of Islam. The Mouseion is housed in the a
complex of stunning buildings and formal gardens designed by
Sa'ad Ibn Brahim in the Babiali district of the city. The Mouseion
is closely affiliated to the FPK.
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In
2219 fortune smiled on Masira. Resource prospectors in the Golden
Bay, formed by a meteor strike, located a Tantalum under the ocean
floor. The resulting economic boom changed much in Masira. The economic
situation in the city transformed overnight; joint venture companies
and some individuals, Qaboos I included, became very rich. Whilst
many Masirans got jobs in, or related to the Tantalum extraction a
large number of non-Islamic workers came in from outside the Sultanate
which led to the formation of the new town of Inniskilling. Part of
the taxation on the Tantalum industry was out into trust and used
to enhance educational and medical establishments. The strike was
a relatively minor one, lasting only 15 years at its height but it
changed Masira fundamentally.
In
2228 Sultan Qaboos I passed away in the palace he had built himself
and his son Said became Sultan in his stead. Said had spent his whole
adult life in opposition to the Arabian occupation and had led a guerrilla
Firqat in Dhofar during the 2180s. Said was still passionately dedicated
to freeing Oman which was his primary goal and he spent most of his
time on Earth. As Sultan Said began to filter money from Masira into
front companies on Terra, he brought about legislation in Masira to
aid and obscure the origins of this money. Volunteers from the militia
Sultan's Regiment were sent to Earth to participate in guerrilla and
terrorist actions against the Arabians. Much to the annoyance of the
British who thought the matter settled.
This
concentration on Earth by Sultan Said led to problems for him at home.
An Islamist faction grew up in Masira, influenced by the actions of
Said as well as the Tantalum strikes with its resulting increased
gap between rich and poor and the influx of non-Muslims. The main
aim of the Masiran Islamists was the creation of an Islamic Republic
of Masira, removing the Sultan, introducing total shariah law
and succeeding from Wellon. Whilst Sultan Said dismissed the Islamists
as Arabian puppets due to their roots in the old Kuwaiti and Muscat
middle classes they were expressing popular grievances. Civil unrest
grew and the Gendarmerie was used heavily handily to suppress the
Islamists.
With
Sultan Said away on Earth and the situation deteriorating, his able
son Qaboos (later Qaboos II) was eventually appointed as Regent. Qaboos
II laid several new policies in place which undercut the influence
of the Islamists and reduced tension in Masira. However in 2234 Said
returned to Masira after the failure of his latest Terran campaign
and set about routing out the Islamists from Masira, launching the
Gendarmerie and Sultan's Regiment into their strongholds. Predictably
intense rioting erupted and the city swayed between Islamists and
the Sultan's loyalists in what was known as the Islamist Crisis. Qaboos
II pleaded with his father to back down, whilst British and South
Albion paratroopers stood by to intervene from New Capetown. However
at the height of the crisis Sultan Said died unexpectedly of a heart
attack whilst in argument with his son, who took over as Sultan.
Under
Qaboos II the crisis passed from its height, although bad blood certainly
remained. He calmed the situation and introduced much needed reforms,
such as the Ulama, genuine democracy and addressing the poverty of
several key districts. These removed much of the support the Islamists
enjoyed, leaving them with only an extremist rump. Qaboos II reintroduced
several ideas of his grandfather Qaboos I, including the need to develop
Masira as a centre for a new Golden Age of liberal Islam engaged with
other cultures and religions. The rump Islamists were further tarnished
with links to Arabian intelligence and faded as a cogent political
force in the Sultanate.
Despite
his willingness to credit his grandfather Qaboos II was the architect
of modern Masira, establishing much of its legislative and constitutional
precedence. He also managed to maintain the Sultanate's semi-autonomous
status when the Dominion of Wellon was formed and became a well known
figure in wider Wellonese politics. Although his later reputation
was one of a jovial elder statesman no one ever doubted his political
acuity or ruthlessness.
Throughout
the four decades of Qaboos II's reign Masira grew steadily and surely.
The town of Inniskilling was successfully integrated into the Sultanate
and the industrial area of New Sfax firmly established. Masira also
developed a tourist industry based mostly on visitors from other parts
of Wellon but also from Muslims from the rest of Tirane. Masira diversified
into petrochemical extraction following the mining out of the Tantalum
and still has a significant polymer industry. Simultaneously with
its economic growth the Sultanate grew culturally with the development
of strains of Islam native to Tirane and the slow integration of the
constituent communities.
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Jadallahi
The
Jadallahi creed of Islam is a recent Tiranean, even Tiranista,
off-shoot of the Khariji or Ibadite, branch found mostly in
Oman and now Masira. They are followers of the teachings of
their Khalifa, the learned Ali Ibn-Salah. The Jadallahis share
most of the core beliefs of the Khariji; that man cannot be
judge over the divine word, of equality of races, that anyone
can be the leader of Islam not just descendants of the prophet
Mohammed, together with strict rules on morality. However they
also have several customs which have evolved on Tirane, most
of which are adopted by emulating the Khalifa. They pray towards
the Anvil of the Faith, and observant Jadallahis visit it in
pilgrimage once a Grandyear. The Jadallahis also believe that
their presence on Tirane has a divine purpose and have a loyalty
towards the original Sultan and his descendants for bringing
this about.
They
observe most of the other strictures of Islam but are regarded
as faintly heretical by other Muslims. However they are seen
as extremely heretical by the Arabians, and Jadallahis are banned
by fatwa from Arabia, denying them the ability to make
the Hajj. Some still go to Earth incognito but several Jadallahis
have disappeared making such journeys. In general terms Jadallahi
is a practical creed well suited to colonial life; egalitarian,
pious, self-disciplined, community based and allowing women
a strong role in society. This has allowed it to spread throughout
the Sultanate, especially in the poorer districts of the New
Quarter but also in other parts of society and elsewhere in
Wellon. Jadallahi Muslims are a strong minority of the population
of Masira and its popularity is causing strains in the Muslim
community.
Jadallahis
have a very loose organisation with no defined structures. The
Khalifa, alims, and imams all have a sway over
the general course of policy and worship but these are very
decentralised. Jadallahis have never been particularly legalistic
in their outlook, especially since the scandals of the early-2260s
and so influence is very much based on moral rather than legal
authority. Although not overtly evangelical the Jadallahis openly
accept anyone interested in their faith at any of their mosques
and other institutions. Some of these are zawiyya and
are found in the poorer parts of the city and also dispense
charity. The is also the Ribat al-Jadall on the edge
of the Blight, which is the home of the Khalifa and where a
few come to study to become alim.
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Sultan
Qaboos II died in a plane crash in the Golden Bay in 2276 and was
greatly mourned. He was succeeded by his son Kamil who had grown up
firmly in the shadow of his father and stayed firmly away from the
limelight. His period as Sultan saw the political development of Masira
come on leaps and bounds in the absence of a forward Sultan. Kamil
was more interested in hunting and his boats than politics and was
known for his patronage of the arts. He died in 2295 and was succeed
by his sun Taimur, the current Sultan.
INDEX
Tiragraphy
The
Sultanate of Masira is located on the southern coast of the Golden
Bay. It is an area of fertile coastal plain sealed off from the surrounding
Blight desert by high ground, known as the Djebel Azraq or Blue Djebel,
which rises to a 400m high plateau before shelving away into the desert.
The coastline to either side of the Sultanate is extremely rocky and
inhospitable.
The
plain has a coastline some 100km long and is 27km deep at its widest
point. The coastline is regular and has several excellent areas of
beach. It has only one deep harbour near New Sfax but a channel has
been dredged to aid navigation into the port of Masira City. The coastal
plain is well irrigated thanks to the regular rains of the region.
These feed five main rivers which flow down wadis from the Djebel.
The wadis are wide, fertile and green throughout the seasons and grandseasons.
The Djebel is covered with blue scrub grass whose colour gives the
feature its name.
There
are three major urban areas in the Sultanate; from east to west these
are New Sfax, Masira City and Inniskilling. These are all of on the
coast and take up over half of the useable land. The coastal plain
is mainly flat, although there are some areas of high ground, now
covered by the urban sprawl of Masira City, and Siwa Hill. At over
200m high Siwa Hill is a major landmark of the Sultanate.
The
weather in Masira is incredibly regular, thanks largely to northerly
prevailing winds in the early hours of the day. The winds almost always
bring early morning rains across the Sultanate, however by mid-morning
the wind dies away and the day heats up. The nights are usually also
warm as the wind picks up from the south bringing the hot Blight air
down across the Djebel. The effects of the seasons are to make the
summers a little hotter and the winters a little wetter, but there
is little major change.
The
grandseasons make a little more difficult and the summer convergence
can be very hot, whilst the winter convergence can cause serious flash
flooding in the wadis. Tonnerre storms on the Golden Bay usually miss
the Sultanate but their after effects can also cause major flooding.
The Sultanate can sometimes suffer from sandstorms whipped in over
the Djebel by the so called Sethia wind from the heart of the Blight.
Although relatively rare the Sethia can leave the streets of Masira
knee deep in sand when it occurs.
INDEX
Masira
City
Masira
City is the heart of the Sultanate and the main conurbation. Founded
by Sultan Qaboos I it is also the oldest part of the Sultanate and
the economic and political centre.
Central
The
Central district was the home to the original colony of exiled Omanis,
whose prefabricated buildings were built in the shadow of the 5km
long Raleigh's Ridge, the end of which juts out into the sea. Today
the initial colony area is the site of Main Road which runs along
the coastline and is lined with the most expensive shops, hotels and
restaurants in the Sultanate. At the northern end of the ridge is
the Sultan's Palace, a sprawling, white walled complex of buildings
that has grown substantially over the years. Its glittering blue minarets
are a distinctive signature of the city and are shown on many postcards.
The
ridge is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the Sultanate
and many of the area's key players have property here. These buildings
are often large compounds, whilst the area has some major areas of
park land containing Terran fauna. The western part of Central is
home to the financial and commercial part of the city. This has been
redeveloped in the last 30 years and is now an area of high rise buildings
built in Novo Cano style, a somewhat controversial decision in the
city. This part of the city is where many of the non-Masirans work
and has a bustle and fast pace unusual in the rest of the city.
Taqa
The
Taqa district is to the west of Central on the coast and is bounded
by Babiali to the south and Salalah to the west. The eastern part
of the district is a continuation of the Central business district,
although notably less high rise than its neighbour. The eastern part
of the district is home to many of the main hotels of the city as
well as much of its nightlife and is excluded from Shariah
Law. The casinos, bars and night clubs are mainly the haunts of non-Masiran
workers but many Masirans also make merry in this area. More conservative
Masirans are disgusted by the activities that go on here.
Salalah
Salalah
is the westernmost of the coastal districts of Masira City, and perhaps
its most run-down. Originally a small fishing settlement, the area
has been on an economic downturn for many years. The coastal area
of Salalah around a the small port hasn't changed much over the course
of the century and is still an area of tight streets and small buildings.
This part of Salalah is home to many of the Tiranean Islamists of
the Sultanate. Much of the rest of the district has been redeveloped,
with many minarcs being built over the years. This part of the city
is increasingly popular amongst young people who work in Central or
Babiali.
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Minarcs
The
minarcs are a peculiarly Masiran form of architecture that developed
in response to the patterns of immigration to the Sultanate.
The name is a contraction of 'mini-arcology' and that is essentially
what they are. Usually large rectangular buildings built around
a central courtyard, they are several stories high and each
story is stepped and smaller than the last. The exterior slopes
of the building is sheathed in solar panelling, whilst the roofs
and inner slopes are heavy with gardens and window boxes. The
central courtyard is usually a small park with a section set
aside for children and families. The lower floors of the minarcs
are usually given over to small business, shops and the like
whilst the upper floors are housing, each minarc also has a
place of worship. They can house anywhere between two hundred
to a thousand people. Often these minarcs come from the same
clans or ethnic groupings, especially those built in the early
years.
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New
Quarter
The
New Quarter is the most famous part of Masira. It has developed from
parts of the city opened by the Sultan to development by the poorest
colonists. What has grown up is a chaotic, vibrant, rabbit warren
a world away from the typical highly planned Wellonese city. This
melting pot is a riot of tight streets, narrow canals, tall tenements,
refurbished apartments, crowded markets, esoteric shops and cosmopolitan
artists. The New Quarter is home to people who have originated from
across Earth, Tirane and many of the colony worlds.
The
New Quarter is seen by some as a centre of criminality within the
city, indeed the district gives the Gendarmerie more trouble than
any others. Some members of the criminal families based here have
become near legendary figures in the Sultanate. Whilst some things
go on in the New Quarter that are indefensible, indeed there are rumours
of indenturing amongst the poorer families, many people find the place
a refreshing place to live and property in the area can be expensive.
Many conservative figures want the district bulldozed and replaced
by new build minarcs, but most inhabitants of the New Quarter don't
want anything to change.
Babiali
Babiali
is the governmental and academic district of the city. It is well
known for its green parks, rooftop gardens and wide boulevards and
has the reputation as being the nicest place to live in Masira. The
Council and Ulama is located here in a sprawling complex at the centre
of the district. The University, the Institute and the Mouseion are
also found here. A large number of people also live in this district
of which many are civil servants, whilst many minarcs are set aside
for the students that study here. A final landmark is the Central
Mosque, located in a quiet area in the east of the district. A nondescript,
slightly decaying structure its congregation include the Sultan and
other key figures of the city whilst the Imam is one of the most influential
religious leaders. It is believed that the Sultan often worships here
as a reminder of the humble roots of the Sultanate.
Jaguar
The
Jaguar district is Masira's stereotypical area of suburbia. The district
is a large, well spaced and well organised one utterly different to
the neighbouring, crowded New Quarter. Most of the housing in the
district is in the minarc style, and moving to the district from elsewhere
in the city is seen as an act of social climbing. Jaguar has traditionally
been home to most of the city's Anglo-Omani population, but today
the population is very mixed.
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The
Anglo-Omanis
Oman
had a long relationship with the British even after the protectorate
ended and her armed forces were largely trained and maintained
by Britons. In the Twilight Era many of these contract servicemen
and their families remained in Oman and became integrated into
society. Most remained nominally Christian, and remained separate
from the rest of Omani society, but a large minority converted
to Islam and integrated into the mainstream. Regardless of religion
the Anglo-Omanis continued to follow their traditional trades
in the forces and civil service. They were especially persecuted
by the Arabians and were amongst the strongest sections of society
supporting the Sultan and some of the most effective urban resitance
cells were Anglo-Omani. Having long since renounced British
citizenship they had little choice but to follow their Sultan
into exile.
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Rakyut
Rakyut
rivals the New Quarter as the most densely populated area of the city
and the areas minarcs and other buildings are packed into its area.
The population is predominantly Dhofari and the area is precisely
defined, to an inhabitant at any rate, between the various Beits.
Rakyut has a reputation as a lively, friendly community and the corner
cafés are always busy. The area is also known for the large
number of Christian churches on its southern edge.
Salahadin
Salahadin
is built upon a high ground at the confluence of the Kathir and the
Keynes rivers. It is one of the most recently built districts, growing
up in the 2270's and is a self contained town in its own right. Salahadin
was designed by developers from elsewhere in the city and aimed at
wealthy new colonists. As a result Salahadin is seen as the least
'Masiran' parts of the city and is home to many colonists from the
UAR, Iraq and North Africa. Many of these colonists have made little
effort to integrate into Masiran society. The district has some of
Masira's main hospitals and is home to the main football club Masira
City FC.
INDEX
Other
Urban Areas
New
Sfax
New
Sfax is the Sultanate's main industrial and port area. Located some
20km to the west of Masira City around the mouth of the Nahiz it has
grown up around the area's best natural harbour. It is the centre
of Masira's communications links with the port and LTA facilities
and the international airport located just to the south. The town
is characterised by large industrial zones with areas of parkland
separating them. Few people live here and most commute in from Masira
City or Inniskilling, however there are a few areas of restaurants
and shops to cater for workers when they are here. The port area has
numerous cheap hotels for sailors and other travellers but most travel
into Masira City's Taqa district or on to Inniskilling to enjoy themselves.
New Sfax has a good road net that is quiet at night, although young
Masirans have taken to racing motorbikes around the streets after
dark and the Gendarmerie is trying to stamp this out.
Inniskilling
Inniskilling
is Masira's second city and is located in the east of the Sultanate
beyond the Arzat. Inniskilling has a much more mixed population than
Masira City and is not under Shariah Law. Inniskilling was
started as a dormitory town for workers from the rest of Wellon who
came to Masira during the Tantalum boom, and the rowdy atmosphere
was always very different from the rest of the Sultanate. Many of
the workers chose to remain in Masira and formed the kernal of the
city. Today it makes most of its money from its fine beaches and the
tourists that come to the Sultanate. Many of the locals work in New
Sfax or in resource extraction in the Golden Bay.
Inniskilling
makes much of its legal status and its hotels, night-clubs and bars
are crowded by Wellonese holiday makers. These usually laze on the
beach or visit the New Quarter during the day and then enjoy Inniskilling's
night life after dark. Predictably the more conservative Masirans
disapprove of such antics but the money the tourists bring in and
the jobs they provide have proven more important. Inniskilling is
a pretty city with hotels in the coastal area and housing for locals
built into the slopes of the Djebel.
Siwa
Hill
There
is a small settlement on the southern flank of Siwa Hill. This is
a religious district unique in Wellon, and is home to an array of
temples, churches, mosques, a synagogue and Dasin temples with their
distinctive spires. The community is a peaceful one in serene surroundings,
conducive to inter-religion dialogue that has little influence on
the day-to-day life of Masira.
INDEX
Government
The
Sultanate is run as a unitary authority under the Southern New Albion
Assembly for administrative purposes, although the Sultanate is actually
only answerable to the Wellon Government. This has at times caused
some difficulty between the Sultanate and the Southern New Albion
Assembly, but generally the later concentrate more on events around
Point Sterling and the Coast and Islands. However should such a dispute
occur the Chief Minister of the Sultanate can appeal direct to the
Home Secretary of the Wellon Government or even to the Governor-General.
This represents the updating of the Sultanate's original protectorate
status under the British Governor-General.
The
Sultanate government itself has evolved in a style akin to the British
style of constitutional monarchy. Although this has developed without
official sanction it is accepted without much demure in official circles,
however it is occasionally controversial with certain of the opinion
formers in secular Wellonese society.
The
Sultanate is run in bicameral style; the Council as lower house, Ulama
as upper house and the Sultan as an executive figurehead. Power predominantly
rests with the Council of Masira, which almost identical to any other
Wellonese Shire or Metropolitan Council. It is composed of Councillors
from some 120 districts across the Sultanate who are elected for four
year terms. The Council has its own Cabinet of Ministers drawn from
the councillors, whilst the head of the council is known as the Chief
Minister who is elected by the councillors and is usually the leader
of the largest political party. The Council of Masira is located in
the Babiali District and deals with the day to day running of the
Sultanate.
Forming
the 'upper house' is the Ulama of Masira. The term Ulama was traditionally
used to denote a community of men learned in the ways of Islam, and
indeed many of these Alim are represented in the Ulama of Masira.
However here the membership has been widened to include notable people
with more secular knowledge as well as learned people of other religions.
Indeed amongst those on the Ulama include several atheist FPK members,
the head of the Anglican community, the Dasin Shaykh, the Professor
of Philosophy from the University and the Khalifa Ali Ibn-Salah, although
he rarely attends, to name but a few. The Ulama was first gathered
together at the time of the Islamist Crisis and has sat ever since.
Membership is by both invitation and inclination and numbers fluctuate.
The Ulama takes as its remit the morale and spiritual health of the
Sultanate and advises both the Sultan and Council. It has no secular
legal authority but has substantial moral authority, as well as religious
authority over the devout. However the Ulama has the power to elect
a new Sultan, although it never has done so.
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The
Dasins
No
one quite knows how the Dasins, known also as Yazidis, arrived
on Wellon. These are an unusual and private people, reviled
by some as devil worshippers and reside mostly in northern Iraq.
Some 400 distressed Dasins were disembarked amongst exiles from
Arabia at New Birmingham in 2211 to the intense confusion of
the authorities. Eventually after much debate, but with little
input from the Dasins, they were sailed down to the Sultanate
and accommodated in isolation in Siwa Hill. The Dasins retreated
into utter isolation, attempting to make sense of their surroundings
and its impact on their religion. Eventually the Dasin Shaykh
emerged empowered to represent the community with the Sultanate
whilst the Dasins concentrated on subsistence agriculture. Today
the Dasins still keep themselves to themselves and as they are
not regarded as Ahlu i-Kitab, or 'people of the book' few in
the Sultanate try to change this state of affairs. Nevertheless
the community and their distinctive temples on Siwa Hill draw
many students of anthropology to the region.
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The
Sultan acts as the unofficial executive of the Sultanate. His official
power rests in his ability to appeal direct to the both the Governor-General
and the Prime Minister of Britain, laid down in the Gibraltar Accords,
although these have rarely been exercised. His unofficial power has
two roots, his position as owner of nearly 50% of the Sultanate's
land and his moral authority as leader of the community. At the time
of the Islamist Crisis, Sultan Qaboos II, gave the newly formed Ulama
the authority to appoint a new Sultan should the consensus agree,
this has had the effect of increasing the legitimacy of his position.
He is consulted widely by the Council and the Ulama, he is also a
member of the Upper House of the Wellon Parliament.
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The
Sultans
There
have been five Sultans of Masira, all first sons from the same
family line. The first Sultan was Qaboos Ibn-Taimur (Qaboos
I) who established Masira and ruled from 2199-2228. The second
Sultan the controversial Said Ibn-Qaboos (2228-2234) who helped
precipitate the Islamist Crisis and died unexpectedly. He was
succeeded by the influential Sultan Qaboos Ibn-Said (Qaboos
II) who laid the foundations of modern Masira from 2234-2276.
The reclusive Sultan Kamil Ibn-Qaboos ruled from 2276-2295 and
was succeeded by the young Taimur Ibn-Kamil on his death.
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The
decisions of the Council are translated into reality by the civil
service. Originally this body was appointed largely by the Sultan,
providing him with a source of patronage. However the corruption this
engendered, especially under Sultan Said, badly damaged the legitimacy
of the Sultanate and helped provoke the Islamist Crisis. Its reform
created a body committed to robust impartiality and fearsome probity
which it retains today. The civil service is well paid, highly educated
and thoroughly humourless in its implementation of the council's decisions.
In part it is this attitude that leads many Masirans to prefer the
informal justice dispensed by the Sultan.
Foreign
Relations
Masira's
foreign relations, like those or the rest of Wellon, are run from
New Camelot by Her Majesties Wellonic Government. However Masira's
position as the only predominantly Islamic semi-autonomous enclave
brings it a unusual level of prominence in the wider Muslim world.
Many Terran Muslims believe that Masira should become the first Tiranean
Islamic Republic and support Islamist groups in Masira which lack
wider Masiran support outside the recent immigrant population. Masira's
consistent rivalry with Arabia, and especially Masiran support of
anti-Arabian groups can also be a problem. Arabian agents have consistently
tried to infiltrate Masira, although with relatively little success
thanks to the efforts of the Gendarmerie Special Branch.
Law
Enforcement
The
primary policing agency of the Sultanate is the Masiran Gendarmerie.
The Gendarmerie was initially established after feuding amongst former
members of the Firqats in 2208 and was composed primarily of other
former Firqat members. This armed paramilitary force was officered
initially by former military officers and the Sultan's favourites.
However it soon proved unreliable and gained a reputation for corruption
and brutality, being patently unsuitable for civilian policing. Under
pressure from the British government the force was reformed with a
wave of instructors and seconded officers coming in from the UK and
other parts of British Tirane. The new Gendarmerie was much more effective
and better trained, whilst most of its militaristic functions were
delegated to the Sultan's Regiment.
Today
the Gendarmerie is a reasonably well respected force with a better
reputation than most of the southern police forces. The rather prominent
political profile of the Sultanate results in any Gendarmerie misdemeanours
being widely reported in the media. It is a conventionally organised
force drawn from across Masiran society as well as from other parts
of Wellon. Traditionally the Anglican Anglo-Omani community tends
to dominate the senior echelons of the force, whilst the Chief Constable
of the Gendarmerie is more often than not recruited from outside the
Sultanate. These two factors result in the Gendarmerie being frequently
criticised by Islamist opinion formers within the Sultanate.
Also
present in the Sultanate is the Royal Wellon Constabulary which has
a small office in the central district. This office is mostly engaged
in monitoring the Masiran business, banking and information handling
sectors. The intelligence community also has a small presence in Masira,
again focused on its business dealings.
Courts
and Justice
Masira
has an array of Law Courts, both official and un-official. There are
a number of Magistrate's Courts across the Sultanate to deal with
local petty crime, whilst located in Babiali are the Sultanate Court
and the Crown Court which deal with more serious civil and criminal
crime. Appeals are referred to the Court of Appeal in Livingstone.
With
the exception of the Court of Appeal the law courts of Masira dispense
justice based on a combination of English Common Law with the addition
of several elements of Shariah Law which have been added by
the Council through the years. However these elements do not apply
in several enclaves; including Inniskilling, parts of Taqa and smaller
areas even down to individual minarcs. Like the rest of Wellon Masira
has no capital punishment but it has an unusual system for Shariah
punishments involving nanotechnology which take away the offenders
ability to use certain limbs. For example a thief may be sentenced
to lose the ability to use his left hand for three years.
The
final court in Masira is the Court of Arbitration. This has no place
in the typical Wellon system of law and is unique to Masira. Should
Masirans come to dispute, rather than go through the usual channels
of legal redress can appeal directly to the Sultan for arbitration.
The Sultan will then appoint one of his own Household to investigate
the claim before offering a ruling. This system is usually far quicker
and less expensive than opening normal litigation and is very popular.
The Sultan's judgement is only rarely disputed, as when it is the
case is usually referred to the law courts. If the law courts do not
take it on, the Sultan usually has enough clout to make life difficult
for the offender.
Criminality
Masira
has its fair share of criminals. Many of these are white collar criminals
working in the business and banking sectors, some of which have links
to crime syndicates of North Albion. Petty crime is a problem frequently
found in the New Quarter as well as amongst adolescents elsewhere
in the city. The New Quarter is home to a number of criminal families
whose reach extends across the Sultanate, whilst certain Islamist
groups have also turned to crime to finance their activities. There
are consistent rumours of a small group of assassins working from
the New Quarter for the highest bidder. The Ash'in are rumoured to
have been recruited from all races and religions and run by a shadowy
old man, however no member of the Ash'in has ever been apprehended
by the Gendarmerie and so many believe they are nothing but an urban
myth.
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Masiran
Islamists
Masira's
Islamists have suffered a long decline since the time of the
Islamist Crisis. Today they still push much the same agenda
as then; the introduction of an Islamic Republic, banishment
of the non-Muslims from Masira and independence from Wellon.
However the economic success of Masira, high living standards
and the taint of Arabian funding for the movement continue to
hamper their cause. The Islamists are largely confined to the
non-Omani Muslim communities who keep themselves to themselves
and several minarcs are entirely Islamist. The Gendarmerie Special
Branch keeps an eye on the Islamists, primarily to monitor potential
Arabian agents.
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INDEX
The
Military
The
Wellon Defence Force does not have a strong presence in Masira. The
Royal Wellon Navy has a small base in the city docks which is home
to facilities to welcome and maintain visiting warships from the fleet.
These usually come from carrier groups using the Colenso facilities
with whose crews Masira is a popular port call. The only units stationed
permanently at HMWS Aboukir are a number of Coast Guard ships
and life boats. The RWAF similarly maintains facilities at Sultan
Qaboos II Airport for use as a staging post. These see occasional
use as a simulated enemy airbase for air exercises at Colenso, however
the facilities for air and ground crew are severely limited compared
with more permanent bases.
The
only ground military unit based in the Sultanate is the 104th Battalion
of the Royal Wellon Airmobile Regiment. This formation is the direct
descendent of the Sultan's Regiment and traces its lineage to the
Omani Sultan's Own Parachute Regiment. Officially a Home Service unit,
usually a sedentary designation, 104 RWAR is actually a highly trained,
formidably equipped unit which although based in Masira is free to
operate anywhere in Wellon. 104 RWAR is based at Firqat Barracks on
the Djebel at the eastern end of the Sultanate. Other Wellon Army
units that recruit in the Sultanate include the 2nd Royal Southerns
and the King's Own Western Dragoons. The RWN and RWAF are also successful
recruiters from the Sultanate.
The
Sultanate has a vestigial militia force known as the Firqats. These
are descended from the guerrilla forces of Dhofar, the Radfan and
urban terrorists of Muscat. Some of these had reformed on their arrival
on Tirane and rivalries between some of them forced their suppression
by the Gendarmerie. Some of the Firqats were disbanded then, whilst
others became little more than social clubs and only a few continued
as active, if disarmed organisations. However in recent years the
Firqat tradition has been revived in militia form, there are now six
active Firqats each the size of an infantry company. Generally they
are poorly trained and equipped, whilst some are suspected of Islamist
leanings attracting Gendarmerie Special Branch attention. The Kafer
War has produced a surge of interest in the Firqats as potential guerrilla
forces but so far the WDF is yet to produce a program to upgrade the
units.
INDEX
Transportation
Masira
has a reputation as being remote from the rest of Wellon, predominantly
as the result of a lack of over ground linkages. However the Sultanate
has a well developed internal transport network and excellent air
and sea facilities.
Air
links have always been important in the south and Masira has two major
airports and a number of smaller strips. Sultan Qaboos II International
Airport is the main facility located to the east of the city. This
has two runways, one of which is capable of taking spaceplanes as
well as the largest transatmospheric cruisers. It is the main route
in and out of Masira for most people travelling for business and pleasure.
New Sfax Airport concentrates more on STOL and LTA traffic, providing
an air-sea interface. Lesser airstrips can be found across the Sultanate,
ranging from the small City Airport catering for executive STOL aircraft
to temporary strips used for a variety of local tasks.
Wellon
Airways is the main carrier into Masira, with at least two flights
a day to all the major cities of Wellon. It also runs flights to Mirambeau
and Bennelong. NovoCano and French carriers have reciprocal arrangements.
A number of cheaper carriers also run tourist flights into the Sultanate,
however these are charter rather than scheduled services. Air Masira
is the locally owned carrier, in which the Sultan has a large stake,
which provides local links to New Capetown and the rest of the Westlands
as well as luxurious flights to Point Sterling, Victoria and New Camelot.
Masira
is closely linked to the sea and relies upon shipping for much of
its movement of heavy goods or ore into the Wellonese economy. The
City Docks are used primarily for passenger craft, including the fast
ferry to New Capetown, however the harbour is a shallow one and capacity
is somewhat limited. Indeed RWN warships on shore runs must stand-off
the city and ferry sailors and supplies into the harbour. The city
is also home to a number of upscale marinas home to an array of highly
expensive yachts. The docks at New Sfax exploit the excellent deep
harbour there and provides the majority of the Sultanate's cargo carrying
capacity. Liners, tankers and cargo ships can all be found calling
in at New Sfax. The co-location of the port with the airport catering
to FTL traffic has proved a boon to business and rapid movement of
ore. The New Sfax facilities are profitable, but no longer as modern
as they once were.
Internal
travel within the Sultanate relies on a combination of road and tram
networks. Relatively few Masirans have cars, and those that do usually
live in the interior or on the Djebel. The roads around the coastal
area of the Sultanate are very good, but are infrequently used. Those
in the interior have more traffic but become increasingly worn the
further away from the coast you get. Only the so called Djebel Road,
which has the designation SB 190, is a metalled road and even that
is poorly maintained. Those Masirans that choose to journey out into
the Blight usually have their own well equipped all-terrain vehicles
and the lack of roads is not a particularly limiting factor. A final
element to the road net is the so called ACV Lane, an area of common
land leading over the Djebel from the Blight into New Sfax for heavy
ACV traffic.
One
of the reasons why levels of car ownership is so low in Masira is
the presence of an excellent tram system that criss-crosses the Sultanate.
A combination of slow and fast trams connect every major settlement
in the area, with slow trams working the roads alone and the fast
trams having access to a system of viaducts. Masira is proud of its
tram system which moves the vast majority of the Sultanate's commuters
every day and the trams are clean, modern, efficient and frequent.
The trams are notable for the presence of a female-only section on
each tram, although not compulsory many Masiran women, both Christian
and Islamic, use this section as it is not usually crowded. Using
the trams alone it is possible to traverse the Sultanate in less than
an hour.
INDEX
Natural
Resources, Power and Industry
Much
of the Sultanate's wealth depends on the natural resources of the
surrounding region. In particular the Golden Bay has a substantial
reserve of petrochemicals that are still being exploited and are usually
refined in the industrial complex at New Sfax. As well as petrochemicals,
prospectors have assessed that the sea bed of the Golden Bay has impressive
mineral deposits, however these are as yet not economical to extract.
Given the nature of the Golden Bay as an asteroid impact crater several
specialist mineral prospecting concerns make a living scouring the
sea bed for exotic minerals. These teams are often on the bread line,
looking for the 'El Dorado' strike of tantalum to make their fortunes.
Whilst no trace of tantalum has been found for nearly 30 years these
teams locate enough valuable minerals to keep at least three specialist
extraction vessels at work in the Golden Bay.
Other
mineral resources have been found on the flanks of the Djebel, indeed
much of the Sultanate's early wealth is built upon the minerals brought
out of the hills. Today most of the mines are exhausted and active
operations have moved to the Blight side of the Djebel or deeper into
the desert. The mining that remains in the Djebel tends to be for
the purposes of feeding Masira's jewellery industry. Commercial mining
is conducted in the deep Blight and Masira is used as a transport
hub, fed either by heavy ground ACVs or FTLs.
Masira
is powered by several sources. The bulk of the power requirements
are fed from a floating rectenna farm anchored to the sea bed some
20 km offshore. However there are other elements which make the best
of Masira's regular weather patterns. Off-shore wind farms left over
from the early days of the colony are the next most used in terms
of production. Indeed the wind farms are owned by the Sultanate and
are used to provide very cheap power for the most impoverished Masirans.
In addition almost all Masiran buildings have solar panels to take
advantage of the midday sun. Lastly the Djebel reservoirs have power
generation units which are used to provide cheap power to the wadi
farms.
Industry
in the Sultanate is largely confined to New Sfax, which has a substantial
heavy industrial complex. These are refineries for the most part,
producing bulk goods from the raw materials mined in the area. These
are then shipped out to New Birmingham or beyond through the port.
Factories producing finished goods are less common, indeed the largest
produces the city's trams. Most other large manufactured goods are
brought into the city by sea. The Sultan has been responsible for
leading the creation of a nascent aerospace sector and Royal Masiran
Defence has won governmental contracts for its UAVs.
INDEX
Commerce
and Finance
Ever
since the time of Sultan Said, Masira has been noticeable for the
secrecy of its banking and data protection laws. Initially used to
protect the Sultan's own dealings with groups on earth, they soon
attracted business from outside the Sultanate. Today the Sultanate
is one of a network of small enclaves across Tirane offering such
services, however Masira is one of the best respected of these. Indeed
several of the major banks have a reputation to rival that of the
Swiss banks on Earth, although some small institutions can disappear
overnight. The banks also have an important product of offering 'Islamic
Mortgages' which brings in much finance from Muslim communities in
New Canberra and Nouvelle Provence.
Most
of the major Wellonese firms have a presence here in order to take
advantage of the slightly different laws of the Sultanate when compared
with the rest of Wellon. Although minor an effective accountant can
make a decent profit on these differences. Masira is home also to
a large number of shipping firms and a large number of ships are registered
here thanks to the combination of low fees, commercial confidentiality
and the Wellon Red Ensign.
Most
of the large commercial concerns native to Masira have their roots
in the Tantalum boom of the 2220's, several of these invested wisely
and survived the economic downturn where many did not. These companies
are now diversified across the Masiran economy and have wide interests.
The largest of these is Masira Commercial Enterprises, which controls
a number of other companies and financial institutions, and has a
substantial presence in the Westlands. The Sultan has a majority stake
in MCE.
INDEX
Agriculture
and Fisheries
The
Sultanate has a quite advanced system of agriculture, based around
the well developed and fertile wadis. These are watered from the reservoirs
and have long been sculpted and terraced to produce the most efficient
area for high intensity agriculture. The wadis are some of the most
expensive real estate in the Sultanate, more for the social value
of owning land there than the profitability of the farming. Most of
the wadi farming is of high value products such as fruits and exotic
vegetables. Less efficient food production takes place on the interior
of the coastal plain. This is, like the wadi farming, divided up into
small holdings usually owned or leased by the more recent arrivals
to Masira. Farming on the plain usually concentrates on the production
of cereal crops. Farming in the Sultanate is notable especially for
is concentration on Terran produce to the almost total exclusion of
native Tiranean foods.
The
slopes of the Djebel outside of the wadis are not suitable for large
scale farming of Terran crops and instead are used to graze animals.
These are usually the hardy, if foul tempered, amarre capra, genetically
modified goats which are rumoured to be able to survive on just about
anything. Large numbers of amarre capra roam the Djebel, occasionally
being preyed upon by Rockats. Further out into the Blight specialist
Azraqi hunters make a living tracking down Sand Snakes which are local
delicacy.
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Azraqis
The
Azraqis are those Masirans who choose to live on the top of
the Djebel Azraq and the edge of the Blight. Initially these
were rural Dhofaris, Yemenis and Bedouins who choose to live
a simple life but their numbers have swelled through the years.
The Azraqis mainly make their living by herding capras and rockjumpers
on the Djebel and live in a series of camps and Ribats. Some
of the Azraqis roam deep into the Blight and have even forged
links with the Southern 'Serai of the Southlands. Many are involved
in guiding pilgrims across the more treacherous stretches of
the Blight to the Anvil of the Faith, indeed most Azraqis are
Jadallahis. Some also have made a tradition of service in the
military and Gendarmerie. The Azraqis have developed their own
spartan, austere culture and ways and are a source of fascination
for many Wellonese.
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Fishing
in the Golden Bay and further out into the Great Western Ocean is
a major industry for local Masirans. This provides a major part of
the local diet, with paddler an especial delicacy. The fishing fleet
operates mostly form New Sfax and a couple of smaller ports along
the coast. The deeper ocean trawlers have occasionally clashed with
their counterparts from both New Capetown and Amaterasu, and fisheries
protection vessels from both sides keep a careful eye on the disputed
fishing grounds.
In
spite of these agricultural and fishing activities the Sultanate is
currently far from self-sufficient in foodstuffs and relies upon imports
from the rest of Wellon.
INDEX
Science
and Education
Education
has always received a high priority in the Sultanate, thanks in part
to the FPK's early groundwork. The education system is multi-layered
with compulsory and voluntary aspects. The Sultanate has a comprehensive
system of primary schooling from the ages of 5-11 after which secondary
education is streamed into schools biased towards sciences, humanities,
technology and so forth. Tertiary education follows the usual Wellonese
pattern of attendance at a college of further education or a university.
It should be noted that compulsory education in the Sultanate is entirely
secular.
In
addition to this compulsory education the Sultanate has an additional
system of voluntary education based around schools run after main
school hours. These range from religious schools to community groups,
from 'cramers' to sports clubs. Many are aimed at catering for specific
groups within the community and several are very prestigious and have
an exclusive intake. For many in society these can take on great importance
in later life and if Masira has an 'old school tie' system then this
is it. However these extra two hours of education a day add greatly
to the standard of education in the Sultanate which is well above
the Wellonese average.
Wellon
has a large number of tertiary colleges and two major universities.
The University of Masira and the Masiran Institute. Of these the University
has the better national reputation but the Institute is seen locally
as a more seriously minded place of study. In addition to these there
is the Mouseion, an Islamic foundation which also supports the research
of the other local institutions. The FPK also has a large presence
in the Sultanate, conducting research into the Blight and Golden Bay
as well as monitoring the forming culture of Masira itself.
INDEX
Culture,
Media and Recreation
The
Sultanate has a number of high cultural institutions based out of
Bibalia. These include the Symphonia Al-Masirah as well as the large
Qaboos II Gallery which was gifted with a wealthy endowment by the
former Sultan. There are also establishments dedicated to ensuring
the survival of southern Arabia's cultural traditions.
Masira
is, like the rest of Wellon, well served by the media with access
to any number of services from Wellon and Tirane. There are two main
local stations which are dedicated to Masiran affairs and broadcast
in both English and Arabic. The largest of these is WBC Masira the
local branch of the Wellon Broadcasting Corporation which has a rather
staid and 'correct' approach. The other is Masira Information and
Media, MIM which is a privately owned corporation which runs several
broadcast media stations and publishes a range of news papers including
Kalam Al Masirah the Sultanate's major Arabic daily. MIM has a
much more populist tone but is often reluctant to criticise the status
quo in Masira, something that is usually left to the WBC.
Masira
has an active sporting life with a variety of sports being popular.
The major sport is football, with Masira City FC representing the
Sultanate in the 2nd Division of the WPL. Masira City FC have generally
struggled and are usually found in the lower half of the division
despite noisy home support. The Sultanate has its own thriving semi-professional
local league and there are hopes that home grown players will be able
to eventually lift Masira City FC into the higher league. The other
major sport is sailing, which is a very popular pastime in this coastal
area. Whilst most of its practitioners are hobbyists, Masira has produced
many professional crews that have done well in national and international
competition.
Hunting
on the Djebel is popular in the Sultanate, especially with the richer
sections of society. However this is primarily conducted using older,
even antique, methods. Hunting with hawks and reproduction muzzle
loading weapons is the order of the day. Professionals employed to
cull rockats and rockjumpers are equipped with modern equipment.
As
alcohol is banned in most of the Sultanate much of the social life
revolves around corner cafés. Conversation and game playing
are very much a part of the day and many visitors find the willingness
of Masirans to engage with outsiders refreshing. This has also led
to the Sultanate gaining a deserved reputation as a hot bed of gossip,
most of which never reaches conventional media outlets.
INDEX
Personalities
Taimur
Ibn-Kamil, Sultan of Masira
The
fifth Sultan is a young man of 32 who has only recently inherited
the mantle of the Sultanate from his father. Handsome, charming and
extremely rich he is one of the more renowned playboys of the core
worlds. He was educated at a boarding school in Meritshire and later
at Aston and Harvard Universities. He continued to be educated whilst
home at Masira and amongst his many tutors were Alim of the
Ulama and he struck up friendships with many of them that last today.
After graduating he served for several years in 104 RWAR, first as
soldier and later as a junior officer. However the death of his father
brought an end to his military career.
Sultan
Taimur is often dismissed by his detractors as little more than a
dissolute raconteur which misses the steel, cunning and intelligence
of the man. However despite his philanthropy and diligence some believe
his love of the good life detracts from his other work. His membership
of the Upper House and upper councils of the FPK being a point in
question. In spite of rumours he remains an observant Muslim in the
mainstream of Ibadite Islam, but does have a great deal of sympathy
with the Jadallahis and maintains his friendship with Ali Ibn-Salah.
Taimur is a showman still in the flush of youth, he may yet mature
into a fine statesman.
Sir
Abdullah Keynes, Chief Minister of the Sultanate of Masira
Sir
Abdullah was born in Muscat on Earth in 2227 to one of the city's
few remaining Anglo-Omani families, part of the powerful Beit Keynes,
but his family soon emigrated to Masira. He was educated in the city
although he attended university in at the European University in Mont
Royal. Whilst always interested in politics the young Abdullah first
gained a place as an administrator with Masira Commercial Enterprises
before moving into politics in the late 2250s. A conservative Liberal
Democrat, he has served in an array of positions in both the Masira
Council and in the Wellonese Lower House and been Chief Minister of
the Sultanate numerous times. He is undoubtedly a big fish in a small
pond who made little impact nationally despite dominating Masira's
political scene.
A
friend and protégé of Sultan Qaboos II in his later
life, Sir Abdullah is immaculately connected in Masiran society and
is an expert manipulator of its political system. Sir Abdullah was
regarded as the power behind the throne of Sultan Kamil and his long
grip on power is regarded with suspicion by the new Sultan. Whilst
always ambitious and very wealthy, Sir Abdullah has always tried to
serve Masira well but his long years in and around power has tainted
him in many eyes. He fears for the political instability of the Sultanate
under the inexperienced Taimur and the rivalry between the two men
is intense. Nevertheless Sir Abdullah intends to retire soon to live
with his extended family on his estate in the Wadi Keynes. He is an
observant Ibadite and regards the Jadallahis with suspicion.
Khalifa
Ali Ibn-Salah
Ali
Ibn-Salah is perhaps the most famous resident of Masira and is the
informal spiritual head of the Jadallahi. Whose members have dubbed
him the Khalifa, much to his embarrassment. He is a member of the
Ulama and well known and respected around the Sultanate. A sprightly
man in his mid-90's, his health is only just beginning to fail, restricting
his wanderings. He is a first generation Masiran, born in the city
in 2208 to Dhofari parents. He was an intelligent, inquisitive child
with a wicked sense of humour, he often drove teachers to distraction.
He developed into a talented Islamic scholar and a precocious alim.
However he was not satisfied simply to remain in Masira and journeyed
across Wellon and Tirane visiting places and communities. It was on
these travels he developed some of his personal philosophies as well
as gaining a small following at some of the Mosques he visited.
At
the end of the 2230s he travelled to Earth to complete the Hajj, he
also journeyed throughout the Middle East observing the countries
and people. In the early 2240's Ali returned to Masira as a widely
travelled and wiser man. His interpretation of the Ibadite traditions
attracted many Muslims to his orbit, although he was always keen to
try and avoid any cult of the personality growing up around him he
was not always successful. He continued his journeys more locally,
heading deep into the Blight and it was during one of these he discovered
the Anvil of the Faith, eventually sparking the creation of the separate
Jadallahi orientation. In response to this he removed himself from
the mainstream of Masiran society and settled in isolation at his
house on the edge of the desert. There he taught students and conversed
with alim from the Sultanate and beyond.
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Anvil
of the Faith
The
Anvil of the Faith is deep in a treacherous area of the western
part of the Blight and is one of the holy places of the Jadallahi
Muslims. A tall rock formation, a small cave in its flank was
discovered by the adventurous alim Ali Ibn-Salah in 2245
during one of his journeys into the desert. He first found water
and then deeper in the cave found a black stone some 30cm in
diameter, incredibly similar to the Black Stone of the Ka'ba
in Mecca. Ali Ibn-Salah took the discovery to be a sign of Allah's
approval of the presence of Muslims on Tirane. Others took it
to be a sign that this was Allah replacing the broken Black
Stone of Mecca, a fragment of which had that year been taken
to the Arabian colony on Beta Hydri in what many Muslims saw
as an act of sacrilege. Ali Ibn-Salah began to take the Anvil
of the Faith as his qibla, or direction of prayer, and his followers
copied him. His trek to the Anvil began to be retraced as an
act of pilgrimage which marked the time when his congregation
evolved into the Jadallahi sect. Other branches of Islam on
Tirane vary in their views on the Anvil of the Faith, some dismiss
it as a fraud whilst some include it as a minor pilgrimage.
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He
disappeared from the Sultanate during the 50's and headed out in to
the colonial Arms, much to the consternation of his followers. Travelling
incognito he visited many colonies and occasionally found controversy,
notably being deported from the Arabian colony of Manzil al-Cenit
on Beta Hydri. He returned to Masira in 2262 to find much has changed;
his former home on the edge of the Blight had been expanded into a
large complex known as the Ribat al-Jadall whilst many Jadallahi
leaders had fallen into corruption. In a furious whirlwind of activity
he ruthlessly destroyed the moral authority of these men and returned
the basis of Jadallahi Islam to its egalitarian roots. In doing so
he finally accepted his position as the moral leader of the Jadallahi.
Since then he has travelled less but has achieved even greater influence
in the Sultanate and in a wider Wellon.
He
has never lost his probing intellect or irreverent, capricious sense
of humour and gained the wisdom of common sense on his travels. Whilst
a charitable, sensitive man he has been pray to vanity and arrogance
in the past and possesses a combustible temper. Nevertheless he is
a revered figure in the Sultanate and to have been one of his students
is a mark of honour. He spends most of his time now in the Ribat,
consigning his thoughts to paper and his witty, incisive writings
have been well received over the last 60 years. He is now somewhat
frail, although his former height and strength is still discernible.
While his household is protective of him he is always willing to meet
with visitors.
INDEX
Wildlife
Golden
Rinn
The
Golden Rinn are the form of Rinn found in the Golden Bay. The Golden
Rinn are larger and more aggressive than the common Rinn. Notable
for their grey and yellow colouring they are often found close inshore
and there are daily tourist trips into the bay to watch them. The
males are extremely protective of their pods and feeding territories
and duelling between males is common. These spectacular fights, half-in
and half-out of the water are rarely fatal but some encounters can
be. Swimming with these creatures is definitely not recommended. The
Golden Rinn are not semi-amphibious like the common Rinn and concentrate
on aquatic fish-form foods. They are one of the symbols of the Sultanate.
Rockjumpers
Rockjumpers
are members of the Dranta family and are found along the coastline
of the Golden Bay. Small, fleet-footed and robust they are grazers
who live on the blue-green vegetation found on the Djebel. They are
inquisitive, territorial and if possible even more foul tempered than
the capras that share their grazing areas. Rockjumpers are renowned
for their ability to travel almost anywhere and it is not uncommon
for climbers on the Djebel to come face-to-face with Rockjumpers on
even the sheerest rock faces. With the influx of capras and the suppression
of the Rockat, their traditional predator, the Rockjumper has proliferated
and become something of a menace. Indeed many people in the city have
found their roof top gardens made of meal of by itinerant Rockjumpers.
Whilst farming Rockjumpers has proved impractical they are occasionally
culled, their meat tastes remarkably like bacon.
Silk
Spider
A
small, member of the Tiranean arachnoform family the Silk Spider is
found in caves on the djebel. It dwells within a cocoon of self-extruded
silk like material, emerging at night to devour small insects. The
delicate silk, when treated and woven makes a distinctively coloured
light but hard wearing fabric. Attempts to replicate the fabric or
farm the Silk Spider commercially have failed and the only reliable
way of harvesting the cocoons is to gather them from the caves at
night. Obviously this results in the material being in very short
supply and is expensive, consequently it is much in demand in the
fashion boutiques on Main Road. Harvesting is tightly regulated to
ensure the survival, and profitability of the industry.
Rockats
The
Rockat is a member of the Tiracat family resembling a small, thinner
Redkat. They are scavengers and resided originally on the Djebel and
the outer edge of the Blight and traditionally preyed on Rockjumpers.
Although not normally dangerous to humans they can attack if cornered
or starving. Rockats were hunted extensively in the early years to
protect the grazing animals on the djebel and surviving packs were
forced into the Blight. Some individuals were forced into the city
and so-called 'urban rockats' are blamed for many misfortunes.
INDEX
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