More stuff from the Lizard Book.
Ibn Jellaba was a trader of Araby intent on opening up a trade route into the interior of the South Lands to procure spices and gold. He trekked over the desert with a camel caravan until he reached the jungles of the South Lands. Here he encountered the Lizardman city of Zlatlan which had remained hidden for millennia. This Lizardman realm far to the south of the great desert was known to the Arabians only by rumour and legend, and the uncertain reports of chance encounters between desert nomads and the dreaded 'Al Saurîm'. Ibn survived the adventure and made his way back overland to Araby, where the Sultan instructed that his adventures be written down.
The following extracts describe Ibn's encounters with the Lizardmen.
Ibn Crosses the Great Desert... "I, Ibn Jellaba made the trek from Ka-Sabar into the interior. No-one had ever done this before and lived to tell the tale. The Sultan of Araby provided me with fifty camels and an escort of exceptionally loyal eunuch soldiers from his palace guard, commanded by Haqim, a champion of immense size and courage. I myself hired several Tuareg scouts to lead me across the desert. I was seeking a land route to the gold and spice lands of the south beyond the great jungle.
At this time the merchants of Lasheik were in fierce rivalry with the Cathayan ships that had appeared in the southern oceans, seeking to take over the sea trade routes. As well as this the Elf ships of Ulthuan were attempting to keep the routes to themselves. It was for this reason that the Sultan instructed me to discover an overland route across the great desert, saying: "Find a way with the ships of the desert. (Historian's note: He means camels.) Navigate by the stars, and bring back the riches from under the noses of our rivals!"
Ibn Reaches the Jungle... Historian's note: Ibn goes on to mention in the account of his journey the rumour of the Al Saurîm and wonders whether he will encounter them and if they will be hostile. Some of the Tuaregs he has hired claim to have seen them. He then describes the first stage of the journey across the desert and we pick up the tale where his expedition reaches the edge of the jungle. "After trekking for three weeks across the burning void, we reached green land covered with scrub and thorn bushes. My Tuaregs were able to smell water in the breeze, so we found several unknown oases and water holes. I carefully recorded the position of these according to sightings upon the sun, moon and stars, so that those who might come after us shall not die of thirst. I also had these places marked with cairns of stones. No-one from Araby had ever been into this green land before, not even the Tuaregs, and so we were all on our guard against ambushes and wild beasts. I had to promise the Tuaregs more gold to persuade them to leave the desert and continue with me into this unknown land. After several days, the trees became more numerous and soon the vegetation was so dense that the eunuchs were hardly able to cut a way through with their scimitars.
Then suddenly we came upon a paved road which was open to the sky. The road was very ancient and overgrown with weeds and stretched far off towards the distant horizon. As it was certainly aligned upon the southern constellation, I decided that we should follow it. At that time I believed it had been made by the people of Al Nehekhariyah long ago. (Historian's note: This is the Arabian name for the ancient civilisation destroyed by the Undead.) Later, I discovered that it had been made by the mysterious Al Saurîm."
Ibn Advances to Within Sight of Zlatlan... "We followed the road southwards through the jungle for many days. It would not have been possible for us to hack our way through the dense vegetation on either side of the road. There were many treacherous swamps but the road crossed over these by means of causeways. It was good that we had brought camels with us because although we often came upon water, it was normally not safe to drink. In one place, some camels were led to a pool and left to drink. They became irritated and all at once stampeded. In the pool we found the carcass of one of the camels, which had been reduced to a skeleton by the ferocious creatures that dwelt there. Sometimes we saw the eyes of reptiles appear above the water, as if watching us. At length, the top of a tall tower was seen shimmering on the far southern horizon. The road was aligned directly towards it. At first we all thought that this must be a mirage of the Elven citadel on the coast of the South Lands. But it was not, for later we could see that the towering structure was in fact shaped in the form of a stepped pyramid. It was not at all like the pyramids of Khemri which are smooth and end in a point that pierces the sky. This pyramid ended in a flat platform."
Ibn Encounters the Lizardmen... "We were within sight of the city of the Lizardmen when we were spied from above by their scouts. They flew high over us riding upon the backs of great winged lizards and then circled like vultures, slowly descending lower and lower. All the time the riders were observing us. Soon they were gliding and swooping very low. Their shadows fell over the camel caravan causing the camels, which are always bad-tempered, to grunt and bellow and become unmanageable.
I harangued the Tuaregs saying that no-one was to shoot arrows up at them, or they would be executed! I was anxious not to provoke fighting that would certainly end in our destruction. We carried on and the flying scouts, having taken a good look at us, swooped off towards the distant pyramids. Later that day as we were leading the camels across another causeway Al Saurîm carrying weapons and ornaments of copper and gold suddenly swarmed out of the weed-choked pools from either side. They were bright turquoise with yellow crests and gathered on either side of their standard like a regiment of soldiers, barring our way with their weapons. The camels halted, and the eunuchs stepped forward with their scimitars to form a battle-line. I stepped forward myself, making the gestures of peace and friendship of all the desert tribes that I could think of, in the hope that they would recognise one of them. Their leader, who was bedecked in feathers, edged forward towards me. It was I who spoke first. "Salaam brother, we come in peace!" He spoke to me in his own tongue which I could not understand. It was time to declare the reason for our entry into his land before they decided to attack us. I beckoned bearers to bring forward all manner of good things from the land of Araby and laid them out on the causeway. Then I retreated back to the eunuchs, so that the chief of the Al Saurîm could examine our merchandise. The chief and several other Lizardmen were looking at our goods displayed on the causeway. They wore a great amount of gold ornaments proving that they were important officers or champions. While this was going on Haqim the eunuch had noticed that another company of Al Saurîm had appeared behind us. These were much bigger warriors than the ones who stood to our front. They were armed with spears and shields of bronze which glinted in the sun. These were undoubtedly the best soldiers of the Al Saurîm.
Those inspecting the merchandise now turned away, leaving all of it where it was. They retreated a little way along the road and then scurried off into the trees. This revealed what was behind them: another densely packed regiment of Al Saurîm armed with great bronze scimitars and bucklers, behind a huge standard surmounted by one of their idols. Our path was blocked in both directions and there was no escape across the swamps. The Al Saurîm stood motionless. The chiefs, who were head and shoulders above the rest, kept them under strict discipline. All this time the hot sun beat down on us from above. I discussed our predicament with Haqim. We agreed that it was better to wait, since they did not move to attack us. If they did attack, then he and the eunuchs would try to hack their way back along the road. Either way we would meet our fate honourably."
Ibn Meets the Scribes of Zlatlan... "As the sun was about to set and the moon was clear above the horizon, the ranks of warriors parted to let through a group of the smaller Al Saurîm. They were dignitaries of some sort, carrying scrolls and other strange artifacts. The leader began to speak in a different tongue from the one they had used before. I listened for a long time and then I knew that he was speaking in the ancient tongue of the Al Nehekharîn, although he was barely able to pronounce the words. This is a very evil tongue used now only by wicked sorcerers and it is only because I am a scholar that I recognised it. I am one of the few whom the Sultan allows to read the forbidden scrolls, for I am strong in faith and will not be corrupted. I was at first afraid that the Al Saurîm might be followers of the evil ones of the Al Nehekharîn, but they spoke the archaic tongue as it was spoken long before the evil came into that accursed land. Unfortunately all the efforts of the speaker were in vain because I did not know the language well enough to reply to them, and indeed, it is forbidden for subjects of the Sultan to speak out loud the words of that accursed tongue! At length, the leader of the Al Saurîm gave up speaking to me, but I had understood some of what he had said. He had asked me many questions about the shape of the world and the realms of the many nations and races. These questions had come from his overlord who presided over the city. In order to reply to the questions and also as a gesture of peace, I ordered my boxes of charts to be brought up and opened, so that he could inspect them. The leader of the Al Saurîm was most impressed and had all his servants gather up my charts and also all the mathematical instruments, including my astrolabe and compass. Assuming them to be gifts, they scurried off in a state of great satisfaction!"
Ibn Accompanies the Lizardmen into the Lands of the Undead... Historian's note: The Skink scribes returned having taken the 'gifts' to their Mage-Priest. They escorted Ibn and his men into other parts of the city where they were well cared for. Ibn Jellaba's tale now includes a long report of his observations in the city and how through long and difficult conversations, the Skink scribes promised to help him return to his own land with gifts for the Sultan, in return for his help in a great expedition which they were planning. The highly intelligent Skinks managed to acquire some knowledge of Arabian making communication easier. At this point Ibn was able to convey the Sultan's desire for permission for the merchants of Araby to lead caravans along the road of the Lizardmen to reach the spices and gold of the south. The Mage-Lord would not permit this, not even in return for a tribute of gold! Ibn did however manage to get back his mathematical instruments and charts, so he was once again able to navigate by the stars. Apparently, the Skink artisans had made copies of them for the Mage-Lord. The expedition was an attempt to recover the mummified relics of one of the Lizardmen's former Mage-Priests. They believed it was hidden in a necropolis in the lands of the Undead, having been stolen in a raid many thousands of years ago. It seems likely that the reigning Mage-Priest of the city, Lord Xuaxamul, needed Ibn's first hand knowledge of the great desert and the routes across it because Lizardmen, being creatures of the humid rain forest, were unaccustomed to survival in an arid land completely lacking in moisture. In the next extract, the expedition is well under way. It appears that only Saurus and Stegadons, (which Ibn describes as 'giant horned beasts', but are translated here as 'Stegadons' for convenience) were selected for the expedition accompanied by cohorts of Skinks, and of course Ibn's own small contingent. "We passed the dismal skull pillars which marked the borders of the lands of Al Nehekhariyah and entered truly desolate desert. Yniminhi (a Skink hero and leader of the expedition)
re-organised the order of march, placing all the Stegadons that were laden down with the huge gourds of water in the rear of the column. The Stegadons equipped with howdahs were placed in the fore, interspersed with cohorts of fierce Al Saurîm. My contingent went ahead of these, with Tuareg scouts searching for the way, seeking out water holes, and keeping a lookout for the foe. Battle with the Al Nehekharîn could be expected at any time.
The column marched for several hours after sunrise and sunset each day and we rested during the night and the hottest part of the day. This was done because the Al Saurîm and their beasts became sluggish in the cold of night and the heat of day and needed to rest. It was also a very sound strategy, because the dust raised by the column would not be so apparent to the enemy in the haze of dawn and dusk. It was revealed to me that at this time the Mage-Lord of the city was attempting to send his thoughts out across the void to entrance the minds of his great adversary. I doubted whether such a thing was possible, but Yniminhi was utterly convinced that their lord could make him slothful and inactive even if he discovered our presence in his land." Historian's note: The Mage Lord had undoubtedly used his telepathic powers to search the deserts and find the place where his predecessor's relics were hidden, before dispatching Yniminhi to recover them. "It seems that he had managed this magical feat, because at length we saw the ruined pyramid necropolis as a mirage before us. I knew that this meant that the real necropolis was several days march further north. There were no signs of any defenders until we came close to the actual ruins. Then it was clearly only a lesser servant of the great lord of the Al Nehekharîn who came out to oppose us, and not the mighty horde of his overlord."
Ibn takes Part in the Battle between the Lizardmen and the Undead... "Nevertheless, the army of the Al Nehekharîn were numerous. It was made up of the skeleton chariotry of the former kings of that dreaded place and his evil archers. They issued forth from their tomb shafts and attacked us in the heat of the day forcing us to break camp to defend ourselves. The Al Saurîm were basking in the heat and gathered to their standards slowly, without any sense of urgency. I ordered my men to fall back to the crest of the next sand dune before the arrows fell among us, so as to delay the onset of the foe. This tactic worked and the entire host of the evil ones followed us over the last great dune and into the massed ranks of the Al Saurîm who were ready to slay them. The Al Saurîm were drawn up for battle with the giant horned beasts to the fore. These charged into the approaching enemy. Behind them, but spaced between the monsters, were the cohorts of Al Saurîm. These charged next, after the monsters had plunged deep into the enemy ranks, throwing them into disarray. Thus the Al Nehekharîn were destroyed and they collapsed into heaps of skulls and bones strewn across the desert. Their numbers could not prevail against the might of the Stegadons and the rage of the Al Saurîm. Although the wailing and sight of the evil hordes would have struck utter terror into the hearts of mortal men, the Al Saurîm were not at all afraid, they just slew anything that came near. After the battle, the desert was silent. There was little flesh for the buzzards to fight over, since so few of the Al Saurîm had fallen. The army entered the necropolis. The pyramids of the city had been destroyed. All that was left were the dark gaping shafts leading into the Undead crypts. Without fear, the scribes entered each and every one of these in their search. Al Saurîm warriors were summoned and set to work breaking open chambers and sarcophagi with bronze chisels. We made a great pile of all that we found.
On my instructions the evil scrolls were burned, and several inert mummies of the former kings were dismembered, put to the torch and scattered to the four winds. This was exactly as we had done with the corpse of the Tomb King who had led the horde against us. Then the scribes found what they were seeking - the relics of their ancient Mage-Lord. A tattered bundle was all that remained, many of the missing bones had no doubt been subjected to all manner of vile rituals by the evil necromancers. The scribes placed these upon the palanquin which they had brought with them for the purpose, with great awe and reverence."
Historian's note: The rest of the tale concerns Ibn's return journey.
The Skink scribes allowed Ibn to take the gold and precious gems that had been found in the tombs or ripped from the mummies of the Tomb Kings; all the Skinks wanted was their relic lord. The treasure amounted to a great heap which was laden onto the camels. This was Ibn's reward for leading the Lizardmen through the desert, so that he should not return empty handed to incur the displeasure of the Sultan. After passing the skull pillars once more, Ibn's contingent set off westwards for Ka-Sabar and the Lizardmen continued southwards to Zlatlan. Ibn reached Ka-Sabar and reported that there was no practical overland route to the southern seas. He also told the Sultan about the powerful armies of the lost realm of the Al Saurîm who controlled the hinterland and that they had no interest in opening up trade links with anyone. Although the Sultan was disappointed with this news, he was delighted with the vast treasure brought back by Ibn's caravan. Not only were Ibn and all his men rewarded, but there was enough wealth left over to equip a new fleet of war dhows to challenge the High Elves and Cathayans for the southern spice trade routes.
Original text from the archives of the Oriental Design Team
