Mansoor Khalifa Ashhad - Ursula

Player: Ursula
Faction: Islamic States, Ayyubid
Email: mansoor_khalifa_ashhad@crusade.chaosdeathfish.com

Mansoor is an Egyptian alchemical professional of the slightly frantic and “interesting” kind. He is, at least, an enthusiastic sort if slightly paranoid.

Sheathe thy Sword, Lord

'The Life of the Al-Nazihah', a treatise detailing the success of the Bedouin tribe, written in Damascus in the 16th century.

“And among the most glorious was Mansoor, who had created the famed Desert Ship still proudly held by the Al-Nazihah. A remarkable Alchemist who achieved much in trading, medicine and exploration - making and trading the best of the virgin gold and hearthfire oil he had devised himself. His work on creating medicines to resist diseases and poisons are still studied in our city of Damascus to this day…”

'The Arab Geographers', published Constantinople University Press (1882), Chapter on 13th Century Arab Geographers

“Mansoor Al-Nazihah deserves mention among them, for recently his writings have been uncovered by chance in a cellar in Damascus five years ago. They make for thoroughly exciting reading, as Mansoor traveled far often moving around Arabia and further into the Sahara desert and beyond. From his writings, which are sadly incomplete, we can read a great many tales, including charting the rumoured locations of the Garden of Eden…”

Mansoor had always loved to tell stories. His diaries were full of them. Some in verse, some in prose, some in song. Here is one that was written shortly before he died:

The ship was a triumph.
I’m making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.
It’s hard to overstate my satisfaction.
Al Nazihah Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there’s no sense crying over every mistake.
You just keep on trying till the camels all break.
And the products gets sold.
And you make some neat gold.
For the people who are still alive.
I’m not even angry.
I’m being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And hurt me.
And tore my heart to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!
Now these virgin's tears worked so much better this time
If this doesn't explode
It'll be ready on time.
So I’m Glad I got spurned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are still alive.
Go ahead and leave me.
I think I prefer to stay inside.
Maybe you’ll find someone else to help you.
Maybe the emperor
THAT WAS A JOKE.
HAHA. FAT CHANCE.
Anyway, this tea is great.
It’s so delicious and sweet.
Look at me still talking
when there’s Alchemy to do.
When I look out there, it makes me glad, how 'bout you?
I’ve experiments to run.
There is research to be done.
For the people who are still alive.
And believe me I am still alive.
I’m doing magic and I’m still alive.
I feel FANTASTIC and I’m still alive.
While you’re dying I’ll be still in love
And when you’re dead I will be still in love
STILL ALIVE
Still in love

From 'The Desert Wind', third in a series of plays about the Al-Nazihah clan, written by a Jerusalem playwright named Guillame de Saxbeard.

Old and weak, Mansoor lay on his death bed. The Al Nazihah wept for him, but he seemed strangely calm. Rasha, Zafir and Siddig are flummoxed.

RASHA, ZAFIR and SIDDIG (the latter shouting): How can you be so accepting of your death Mansoor?

MANSOOR: It is simple. We have seen Jamila in Damascus and she tells me I am ready for Allah now, I am too old for any more medecines; besides, you never know what's waiting for me, there could be a whole lot of ancient scholars, a large cup of tea and some figs up there, and I'll get to be buried in the desert by my family

The old man smile contentedly with a hint of mischief as he sat in bed, before sprinkling a little circle of salt around himself for the third time in an hour.

MANSOOR: Besides, if I take my diaries with me, then I'll have plenty to read and write

ZAFIR (pointing towards a scroll that had been annoying Mansoor for the past twenty years): Will you be taking that filthy piece of parchment too?

MANSOOR: Of course. It contains my greatest and most beautiful source of shame

SIDDIG: Ha ha. A spell even Mansoor cannot master?

MANSOOR (voice now softer, almost nostalgic): Ahem. In a manner of speaking, yesю

He gazes at the aged Siddig, remembering a time when the beard had not been grey and the walking stick had been a scimitar.

MANSOOR (to audience only): Now here I lie, before me this parchment, and only I know the meaning of these scrateches. An attempt at a spell which would change the essential nature of a man and these two words.

Mansoor pauses, coughs and brings the parchment closer to his face

MANSOOR: Two words, obscured and rewritten countless times -'Dear Siddig'.

Plaque at the entrance to the Mansoor Al-Nazihah Research Institute of Damascus