Al Namir

Al Namir draws his sword

> *"For years, we have lived with one another in the naked desert, under the heaven of indifference. That changes how one sees war. To me an unnecessary action, or shot, or casualty, is not only a waste - but a sin."* - Al Namir, talking about his philosophy on conflict.
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Al Namir, once known as Junaid Hadi, is a rebel leader and warlord. He commands the Namiri Rebels, a collective of various rebel and insurgent groups scattered across the desert. These otherwise independent cells all fight under his leadership for a shared goal - to forge a new nation based on multi-culturalism and indifference, through force if necessary. Once a slave himself, Al Namir is more dedicated than anyone to see this dream become a reality.

Though he is self-taught in the arts of command and warfare, Al Namir is known to be an natural leader and talented strategist. He is warm and welcoming to new recruits, keeping in line with his personal philosophies, but will maintain order through firm words and steady hand if need be. Despite being from many walks of life and many parts of the world, Al Namir's followers are incredibly loyal to him. As well as his talent for command, he is also a skilled general. Al Namir revolutionised the art of desert warfare through his strategy of guerrilla warfare. Instead of open battle his troops engage the enemy through skirmish attacks and hit-and-run tactics, a strategy that has proven to be very effective at disrupting Carrion Kingdom infrastructure.

And Al Namir's skills can be seen in his army's successes, to. Most recently, his forces captured Fort Ninurta from the Ashuri State, something that is considered a major victory by the rebels. But, naturally, it is very likely that Al Namir himself is only getting started.

## **History**

Al Namir was born in the Monshez Junta under the name Junaid Hadi. The only child of two slaves, he was forced into labour at the age of 6, as so many others had before him. His low status, combined with the rigid Carrionite social structure, meant that Junaid had no real opportunities provided to him despite showing an affinity for academics. Over time he developed a deep resentment for those above him, so when he was approached by a fellow slave to support an uprising he jumped at the opportunity.

### **Uprising and Escape**

On the night of the uprising, a hundred slaves rose up in an attempt to overthrow their masters. They killed overseers and burned down buildings as others attempted to escape to the safety of the desert. But it was all for nothing. The military arrived and violently put down the rebellion, with Junaid himself taken prisoner. As punishment for his insurrection, Junaid's parents were executed in front of him and their corpses burned. Junaid himself was castrated so that, one way or another, his lineage would be wiped from the world upon his death.

The brutality he experienced only fuelled his drive more, however. Years passed by and, though he continued his labour, Junaid secretly assembled a team of likeminded individuals. When the time was right, they would assassinate their tyrant and escape into the desert. They did not have to wait long. Another revolt was only a matter of time and, when it did erupt, provided the perfect opportunity to slip away. For several weeks the group lived in the underbelly of their home, surviving in ditches and tunnels. Their overseers assumed that they had been taken by the desert, not a problem for there were always more slaves to replace them. But this was all part of the plan. When the group re-emerged, under the cover of darkness, there was not a single guard looking for them. Silently they slipped into the home of their master and, with no hesitation, they cut his throat there and then. The group then fled into the desert, going their separate ways and wishing each other luck.

But Junaid had obtained something more than just revenge. He had a new purpose, a cause to fight for.

### **Al Namir - The Leopard**

After fleeing the Monshez Junta, Junaid disappeared for quite some time. One would assume that he had died in the wilderness or perhaps had settled down somewhere quiet. They would be wrong. Around the same time, and not coincidentally, there was also a sudden rise in attacks and raids by a person known only as Al Namir (meaning The Leopard). He and his rebels conducted ambitious and devastating raids against caravans and patrols belonging to all Carrion Kingdoms. Unlike other parties, which could be bought and used, these people did not discriminate. All Kingdoms were a target. As you might have guessed, Al Namir and Junaid Hadi were one in the same.

Nevertheless, he and his little group of rebels were not seen as particularly threatening. After all, there were already enough bandits and rebels in the Dead Sands and they had never really been much of an issue before. That was until Al Namir and his band of soldiers went on a raiding spree across the provinces of the Red Land. They burned mercenary camps and sacked towns across the frontier, fleeing into the mountains before a proper response could be mounted. Through this, Al Namir gained a reputation as a clever and skilled tactician.

Over time, word of his feats spread, turning Al Namir into something of a mythical figure. A hero for the downtrodden and a bogyman for the ruling elite. His beliefs also spread - the creation of a nation of diversity and indifference. Naturally, the ideas of liberation and getting more than they had was quite the popular idea with many of the lower classes of Carrionite society and so Al Namir's numbers grew. Other cells were formed across the Dead Sands, all united in their common goal and his leadership.

Since then, Al Namir has led his rebels in a constant campaign against the Carrion Kingdoms. This purpose has seen him travelling all across the Dead Sands, leading campaigns and overseeing raids. One of his more notable feats was when he briefly allied with Queen Apepneferu of Shedet against a dangerously sizable band of Dark Elf slavers. As the Queen decimated the landing force with her army, Al Namir and his rebels sabotaged the ships so that those who fled would be lost at sea. He has also conducted diplomatic meetings, of a sort, with other rebel bands, ensuring that they had more to gain from friendship than enmity. More recently, Al Namir and his forces captured the Ashuri fort of Fort Ninurta, giving them a new place from which to conduct their operations.

## **Characteristics and Personality**

Al Namir is a man of opposites. He is both merciful and ruthless, kind and cruel, inclusive and prejudiced in equal measure.

It is said that he is kind to those that join his forces, ensuring they are welcomed properly and placed on equal footing to those already present. He is also compassionate to the downtrodden, slaves and urchins and the like. Al Namir will never kill or wound an innocent. However, he is also known to be unforgiving and ruthless to his enemies. To him, those that protect the corrupt society he fights against are just as guilty as those that lead it. Prisoners are rarely taken and new soldiers are seen as equally important targets as the generals that lead them. Al Namir argues in favour of equality and inclusion, however is known to look down on Carrionites and particularly despises those that come from positions of privilege and wealth.

That being said, Al Namir is also a very secretive and private man. He keeps much of his inner thoughts to himself and it is unlikely that any analysis will ever truly understand the machinations of his mind and psyche.

## **Trivia**

* Al Namir is very fond of juniper berries, something that is known to occasionally give him stomach problems.
* Al Namir's nickname comes from the leopard skin cloak he wears on his back. It is unknown where exactly he acquired said cloak, but it is probable that it comes from a beast he himself hunted.
* Unlike a lot of warriors and leaders in history, Al Namir has not named his weapon.
* Al Namir is loosely based on two figures from history - T.E. Lawrence (of Arab Revolt fame) and Judar Pasha (a Spanish-Moroccan military leader).