(Abdul-)Malik Haqim

From Circle Of The Crone

Revision as of 06:31, 10 February 2007

The Nakagusuku Shadow (Titles)

The Honorable Malik Haqim of the Ryukyu Kingdom

• Guuji and Hero of Izanami
• Hierophant of the Nippon Empire
• Blind Arbiter of the Eternal Night
• Member of Shogun's Council of Princes
• Respected by Servants of the Dark Mother (Crone Status 4)
• Acknowledged by the Clan of Shadows (Mekhet Status 1)
• Admired within the Ryukyu Kingdom (Okinawa City Status 5)

Shades Cast No Shadows (The True Beginning)

Malik's name comes to be known among locales around 1950, in London England. He is seen as a loyal servant of Lady Cloe Griffith (Mekhet 2, Crone 2, Okinawa City 4), a traveling Circle spiritual healer. He shows up throughout the Middle East as a martial defender of Circle ways and secrets. Than seems to vanish until present day...

In the beginning of 2005, Lady Cloe Griffith and (Abdul-)Malik arrive in Okinawa Japan and do nothing more than observe the courtly activities from the shadows as they continue their research on asian healing rituals. Life had been peaceful for fifty years, but that was all about to change.

In the early spring of 2005 the Belial’s Brood struck the island and laid waste to the masquerade. The court was thrown into disarray as the Daimyo of the island is mercilessly cut down. The coteries were collapsing and foreigner hating Japanese elders sought to rid the island of all kindred gaijin. The court was besieged by Praxis after Praxis and in the end only a few stood, Nicolas Barrozzi (Venture 3 and Invictus 3), Asai Katsuo (Mekhet 1, Crone 1, and Okinawa City 1), Gabriel Sinclair Angustri (Gangrel 1, Ordo Dracul 3, and Okinawa City 3), Cloe and Malik. Nicolas Barrozzi would become Prince and begin the first foreigner secured Court.

For Malik’s devotion to put his beast to test time and time again for the masquerade and the protection of the court, he was made Sheriff. With the assistance of the known scourge, Gabriel, he destroyed numerous threats to the court both mortal and supernatural. His ability to kill from the shadows and maintain control over his humanity gained him the alias of Arbiter of the Eternal Night. This has been the staple of all discussions concerning Malik as his death toll reaches more than fifty while serving on this island.

Fear and trust was earned throughout the court and Malik found himself and Cloe drifting apart. Malik saw the Sanctums lack of power in the region and the disorganization of the Circle due to racism and decided to focus his efforts on the Dark Mother. It took no more that six months for Malik to oppress all foreign and domestic issues between the locale Crone of Japan and Okinawa and place himself as Hierophant over them all.

No Longer the Servant (The Path to Imperial Prince)

Malik was once again called upon by the court to defend it from otherworldly enemies, but this time he would find himself not alone in his fight. He stood next to the most feared creatures in all of Japan…the werewolves. The battles were great, as was the deaths among the werewolves. In the end the creature was battled in "two worlds" one by Malik and the other by Pure White Requiem (Storm Lord 3 and Rahu 2. Deceased), in the creature’s dying worlds it would scream, "My death stops nothing, the ritual has already begun."

The Sanctum would replace their leader after the loss of their control over the Circle. Archbishop Rygellion (Mekhet 1, Sanctum 4, and Okinawa City 4) would be sent to cull the herd. He would quickly reassemble his forces and prepared to strike out against the heretics when he was confronted by a true issue, the Brood Leader Raven and a mysterious gathering of monsters. Instead of meeting Rygellion with equal resistance Malik decided to assist Rygellion and throughout their fight with the remaining Brood and monsters of the island, a loose alliance was formed. This alliance would be tested to its fullest as apparent Prince, Nicolas, sends the captured Raven after someone claiming Praxis. Malik had fought beside Prince Barrozzi all this time and could not believe that he had been betrayed so deeply by the court that he sought to protect.

The lines were drawn and as Barrozzi’s hotel was being laid siege, and Malik hunted Raven. In the end Raven was staked and left for the sun to never bother humanity again. From the day forth Malik vowed to never stake and turn over and individual again, and if they were to be subdued than justice must be done immediately. In the confusion and fires former Prince Barrozzi fled the island and was never seen or heard from again.

Malik was at a loss, and for a month, Praxis waged on without his presence. Alliances were torn as the Invictus struggled to recover from Barrozzi’s betrayal. The Ordo Dracul and Lancea Sanctum fought for control over the city, and the Crone watched in horror from the shadows. Gabriel emerged on top and Malik awoke to a realization, this was his city. He had killed for its security and no one, but him, was going to dictate its future while he resided on the island. Praxis was short as the covenants flocked behind their local legend. Gabriel would disappear from the eyes of the court realizing the power the Circle had amassed, so that not even his own covenant mates would stand beside him against Malik.

Malik welcomed a new Invictus Samuel Radcliff (Ventrue 3, Invictus 3, and Okinawa City 4) to the position of Primogin, and the ratical Jordan Williams (Carthian 2 and Okinawa City 3) to his position of Harpy. He assured them that he sought no ill will toward the Invictus over one misguided man, nor did he feel threated by the freethinking nature of the Movement. Archbishop Rygellion took his rightful place as Lancea Sanctum Primogen, and Logan (Gangrel 1, Ordo 3, and Okinawa City 3) would take Gabriel’s place as Ordo Dracul Primogen and Sheriff. Everything would seen to haven fallen exactly where Malik intended it to, only the more he did for the court the more they came to rely on his guidance and force to get things done. This was not to Malik liking that his only goal was for the island to become more stable so that he may continue his mission of idenity. He know that without knowing how he truely was, not the name given to him by his adapted parents, that he could never move forward with his destiny. There is a power to names they say, and it is supposed to be the only thing you cannot take from someone in the end, but what destiny is there for one that doesnt know their own?

Who is Abdul-Malik Haqim? (Optional Section)

Written by Steven Stroud under the guidance of Matt Hope in Malik's travels to the Dark Places on the Map.

Malik traveled over the land in search of information on his birth parents and would come across many members of the Mekhet Clan who would give bits and pieces of information in regards to a “Hall of Records” somewhere in Turkey. After spending a few nights in travel Malikl would reach Turkey and the area that people were calling “Neo-Cappadocia,”’ which upon the arrival, Malik would notice that the place of mention was carved into a rock face.

Eventually Abdul enters after exploring the area in detail, finding no one of any note or at least, of harm. Slowly moving through the winding passages and past the dark barren rooms of this underground temple Malik would stumble onto a grand chamber with no other exits. In this chamber the markings of Christ would be seen painted along the walls and eventually one symbol would stand out among them all. The Cross of Longinus, which would be bared upon the sword of a Saint within a mural. After searching the chamber Abdul would find nothing but dust and broken hope as his desire to find out his mortals family name was now vanishing. Just when it seemed Abdul would leave a voice is heard from behind him.

“Woe young one… You seem so distraught is something wrong?” A man of Turkish decent and roughly the age of about fifty was standing with his hands behind his back. Cool dark eyes look upon Abdul, as if looking for something, then these eyes move to his own and the feeling of trust would be felt from this man.

“Yes…I was told a Hall of Records was kept somewhere in this vast underground temple… Yet I have yet to find such of place… Do you know, by chance, where I can find it?”

“If your seeking the information of your parents young Abdul Malik… or should I say, William Collins the second. Then yes you have found the place… and the man who has watched over this place for that feels like eternity… Please, come in… and lets talk about your parents, your brother and his children”

The man walked into a door that happened to been over looked before and slowly Abdul made his way in through the door. Once inside a vast library of scrolls, books and the like could be seen neatly placed in shelves, cases and holders. Each seems to have some sort of importance; each seemed to all be very well taken care of as well.

“Come, sit William… I have known about your coming here since you first asked about information regarding your parents…” The old man said as he motioned for Abdul to sit at the table where a scroll lay unwrapped waiting to be read, entitled “Collins”

“I know you have many questions… yet all I can give you is what information I have. A name, if your going to ask, I’m the Keeper of this place and I’m known as Aramedeus. Its not my real name, just the name I took once I decided to forever reside here and track the names of those who explore the land and those who are destined to become that of Blood Mekhet and their families up to about three hundred years from the first who caught my eye.”

“Your family originally came here from Syria in hopes to find mystical treasures and knowledge of old Cappadocia. While here they searched and searched the empty rooms and catacombs of the area trying all their might to find something. As your parents searched the old temples and catacombs, your nanny watched over you and your Brother Daniel Collins. It would be a year after they settled here that the unfortunate death of your parents would come around. The people who found the bodies mistake the attack for bandits. It was a single man, of our blood, who attacked your family and killed them. This man, who was a colleague of mine before Old Cappadocia was known as Old, lived in one of the temples not to far from here. It was during the day that your father stumbled upon his tomb. Needless to say, Edemas would awaken and set upon your father and your mother, who witnessed the attack, for two reasons. One was to protect the masquerade and the second was Desire it seems. Edemas was hungry and felt your mother to be a fitting meal for someone who was so thick in blood.”

“Your Nanny, Amanda Bayville, waited for a day until she got a hold of the local authorities. They went and investigated and found both your dead parents. It wasn’t long after that, that Bayville would head back to Syria with you and your brother. From there I’m not exactly sure what happened, yet some how you were given up for adoption and Daniel was sent back to England. Where he, from what I was told, grew up and went to the United States and had a son of his own. Eric Collins and from there Eric had a Son named Anthony Collins… who…”

Aramedeus leans over and takes the parchment and look at it for a moment “Awe yes, who is now about 22 or 23 years old. This young man was lucky, he went to Egypt about three years ago it seems… had some sort of bad run in and was in the hospital for a few months there… I guess he almost died… this is curious… from what I read now, he now resides upon Okinawa… mortal still”

Aramedeus looks at William. “Oh I will get back to the rest of your brother and his children in a minute. Yet, from what I do remember.” He looks over the parchment again “Your Nanny was found dead shortly after you were put in an Orphanage. And from my writings… it looked as if she was trying to protect something… which was you and your brother I believe. How they found your brother and not you, I do not have recorded…”

Aramedeus eyes look upon William “I know this is a lot to take in… This is why I’m letting you have this” Aramedeus hands William the parchment. “I have another… I figured as one of us… you might want a bit of this knowledge of your parents and family… I have never ran across a Mekhet who didn’t have some desire to gain knowledge. Oh as for Edemas, he was killed about two years ago, the poor fool didn’t realize the man who wandered into his tomb was a mage… pity. I liked Edemas, good man for a Gangrel… yet, not too bright.”

Aramedeus stands up and looks to William “Listen to me William… Your father was a great man who sought knowledge of the world and its mysteries… and your mother was a fair woman of great beauty. She loved you with all her heart and soul… Try to remember their love for you boy… Do not forget about them… Now… I must rest… being awake for this long only hurts… Also, do not hate the one who killed your family either… or his Clan… He only did what those so connected to the animals do when they feel threaten. Just know though, he suffered for it, after his actions he realized that the two would never return to you or your brother… which is why I believe he still attacked the mage even after the mage announced who he was up front… Now go William Collins the Second, the man who grew up without his name, the man who now knows his name…” Aramedeus slowly pushes William out the door and begins to close it “Remember your William Collins the Second… Loved to the very end”

The chamber was dark and the door, no matter how much the keen eye of the Mekhet would be used, would never show itself. William… or Abdul as he has been known as, would look down in his hand and see the mark of the Mekhet upon the parchment with the word “Collins” under it.

After so long, the truth behind his family was finally revealed… yet at the same time, even more clouded in mystery then before seemed his destiny.

The Hungry Dead and Ancient Unliving (Ghosts and Spirits)

The Guuji and Hero of Izanami (The Rise of the Cult)

The Shadows Talk (Rumors)

• Malik is haunted by the ghosts of the past who forever seek him for their release.

• Archbiship Rygellion is actualy Malik's broodmate and they have no problem sharing heresies.

• Cloe Griffith has Malik fully blood bounded to her, but in weakness she allowed him to bond her as well.

• Malik is responsable for the peaceful alliance the sorcerors, werewolves and vampires have within the domain.

• Okinawan Ordo joke that he has mastered the "Coils of Abdul" which prevent him from degenerating in humanity from his acts of violence.

• Has slain over a hundred individuals in the defense of the masquerade and has been deemed the "Terror of Nakagusuku" or the "Nakagusuku Shadow"

The Journey is Relentless (Conclusion)

Some would say Malik is where he is due to fear, a real bogeyman of modern nights. He appears to have no remorse when cutting down the more disgraceful forms of life that subject and torture humanity. Though, most would say he is a beacon of humanity, and that he is an example of how, to some, every life you take means something and should be mourned equally. Malik is respected for his dedication to the masquerade and to the Circle and is ready to put his life on line at any moment for either.

Malik now turns to Arizona for the next step on the road to his destiny. Here in the desert the land is shrouded by unrelenting might of Prince Kincaid, and the Circle's power seems to never waver. Malik hopes that in this far away land of stability that he may finally find solace.

Timothy Webster US2005033164

DST Nakagusuku Shadows JP-002-D (GIR)

Storyteller Contact Information

Steven Stroud US2005033091.

Requiem VST Nakagusuku Shadows JP-002-D (GIR)