The Tree and the Sea

Seventy Fourth Hiqba Following the Revelations of Occulem, Third Mahj

As spoken by Sheikhs Moctar and Farhan

A measure of fanfare has unfolded surrounding recent weeks as news spread of the Splendour - Sarir Sultana, travelling south in the company of a household faris contingent aboard her royal brother's personal vessel, the I.S Alnuwras. The heir apparent was welcomed within the sprawling woodlands of Fanhorim-Dûr and soon joined by Sheikh Farhan to act as translator between the two cultures, helping to facilitate an organized exchange in the Republic. The arrangement having been discussed by both countries and their respective Shimeji councillors prior to the event in an effort to promote goodwill, made all the more convenient as Sarir had expressed an enthusiasm most curious in conducting the visit herself.

The occasion proceeded to great merriment as the pair and their escorts were granted a productive tour of several landmarks and the wonders to behold, Sarir all the while never absent her illustrious birchwood bilum pipe of which she was insistently determined to share with many of their company to varying appreciation. The addled royal cursing boisterously in awe upon first witnessing the scale of Fanail towering above the delegation, promptly choking for a time on her bilum drag in the process. Without further incident, the fortunate timing of the seasonal holiday of Veggog lead to considerably jovial interactions with fascinated locals eager to bombard the exotic northerners with questions relating to their customs and comparatively strange dress sense. Chaperoned by an Arcanum school-teacher, the two eventually indulged in feasting with their hosts and watching chicken races as Sheikh Farhan reluctantly recounted some of the eccentric Sheikh Ehysaad's outlandish tales, Sarir making fast friends throughout with councillors of the Fighters and Merchants guild with several bawdy jests and continued pipe smoking.

Speaking on behalf of the Sultanate, the royal conveyed further collaboration desired by the Court of Nobility and agreements were had to establish a consulate to counterpart Farhan's own with one by the harbour adjacent Færødale - made all the more esteemed in importance placed by the decision with the much beloved Sheikh Moctar himself agreeing to take the post in his present twilight years. Continued satisfaction with already formed trade routes were followed by the proposal of a joint project by the Republic's renowned architects and Ibeshi shipwrights working closely in the construction of an elaborate drydock, electing the recently budding settlement of Jadria as the prime candidate given more favourable geographic proximity. The endeavour set underway with the arrival of individuals from both the Sultanate and Republic at the region in question, providing a rare first opportunity for a foreign country to experiment with the unique and industrious design of Ibesh drydocks.

Occulem Murmurs