Rashid al-Qasim
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 Rashid al-Qasim shooting at Sealion War AS 46 | ||||||||||||
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 Pean, three serpents nowed Or |
SCA History
Lord (Sayyid) Rashid al-Qasim, Yeoman of Seagirt, joined the SCA for Sealion War XL/2005 when one of his friends called him up a week before the event and said "dude, you won't believe this thing I found out about..." Years later, Rashid has only grown in infamy.
A fondness for target shooting, heraldry, dance, and generally getting hit in the head with things had cemented his decision to become a Yeoman of Seagirt early on. Attempting first in 2007, he met with less than success. Not to be disheartened he studied even more fervently, trained in combat and was even offered command of the Company of Red Dawn for Sealion War XLIII/2008 to better prepare him for the trials.
He was accepted into the sergentry by Baroness Elina as the first Yeoman of the Barony of Seagirt in July 2008. He was later seen walking on air for about a month.
Recently at Daffodil AS46 in Seagirt, he has become a student to Mistress Æringunnr Yrsudóttir, and is seeking education and encouragement from her in Persona Development. Rumours of mango flavored bribery in the form of liqeur should be disregarded.
Rashid is fortunate to count as a close friend Alfgeir Gunnarsson. It should be noted it is entirely Aelfgar's fault Rashid ever found the SCA.
Whereabouts
- Currently Living in the Barony of Seagirt
Awards
- Award of Arms from Prince Savaric de Porte des Lions and Princess Safiye Konstantiniyye at Sealion War, June 14 AS 43 / 2008
- Order of the Rocke (Seagirt) July 25 AS 43 / 2008
- Yeoman of Seagirt to Baroness Elina Karsdottir Jul 27 AS 43 / 2008
- Narwhal (Seagirt) Dec 11 AS 45 / 2010
Coat of Arms
Upon the advise of Maister Iago (and much to the lament of everyone around him), Rashid is in the process of registering Pean, three serpents nowed Or (Snakes on a Pean).
Persona History
Rashid grew up in 12th century Egypt during the waning days of the Fatimid Caliphate. A Shi'a Muslim and third son of a failing silver merchant, he suspected his own efforts at commerce would not work out. This feeling was reinforced after an upstart Sunni Kurd took control of the nation. He bought a bow, suit of maille and a sword after selling off all of his possesions (and a few of his father's). Rashid then sold himself into military service for a period of ten years, where he learned Furusiyya (the Muslim equivilent of knightly martial exercise). Training as cavalry among Turkish mercenaries, he was eventually sold by his patron into the new army of Sultan Salah al-Dīn Yusuf ibn Ayyub.
Rashid's immediate commander was Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, the Blue Wolf of the Turks. Even though he found the Turkish ways unhygenic at best and barbaric at worst, Rashid proved an apt soldier and came to appreciate the Turkish no-nonsense attitude. Although he was not a Mamluk per-say, he was indentured to the Sultan and shared a soldier's lot. Riding in several skirmishes, he earned title, equipment, horses and a reputation for marksmanship. He even twice met the Sultan himself!
Rashid was wounded at the Battle of Hattin, which marked the final destruction of the Franj army. Taking a spear wound to the leg, the doctors said he would not be able to fight on horseback again. Too much of Muslim mounted combat relief on the mounted man's legs, and the wound in his thigh sapped his strength in that leg. When Rashid was recovered, Gökböri released him from his service, gave him a new horse, money, a small fief and sent him on his way with good will.
Rashid has since worked as a mercenary, guarding caravans and noble persons. He heard of the recapture of Jerusalem by the Sultan but is glad to have missed out on it. Holy causes are for others, Rashid enjoys the freedom of being his own man again.
Infamy
Known to some as 'the mad coconut-bomber of Seagirt', Rashid gave one of his testing sergeants a coconut as a gift after his first trials. The coconut had been used as a bocce ball as well as for juggling earlier over the course of the weekend, which might explain it's somewhat unnatural behavior later. Driving home from the event, Lord Allan Robbins heard a loud popping sound and pulled onto the side of the road. Looking back to find shards of coconut and spots of milk all over the back seat of his van, Lord Allan was said to have remarked "Cool!" before cleaning up the mess and driving home. Scholars are still not sure how Rashid was able to cause such a violent explosion in a normally docile fruit, but foul play is not suspected.
At Sealion War 2008, Rashid al-Qasim, Krzysztof Sirtaski, Aline Blakwode, and Don Pierce O'Briain presented the victorious Lions Gate rapier army with a "Seven Severed Head Salute", whereby they fired plastic mannequin heads from a nearby trebuchet as a testament to Seagirtian humour and Lion's Gates appreciation for flying noggins.