Kareem Al'Nader

“*We can't leave all the trading to the Zerrikanians, can we?*”
―**Kareem** to Arpad during their time in Ebbing.

Kareem days before his departure for Nilfgaard (Art by Leonardo.ai)

Kareem Al'Nader was a human born in Ofir, who traveled north to conduct business throughout the lands that would later be known as Nilfgaard. He joined the band of friends following Fristos, son of Klestafraz after meeting them at the gates of Claremont. He was invented for the Trials in the South TTRPG campaign, and was portrayed by Dark.

## Biography

### Early Life

Born as the son of a noble family in the city of Assar, Kareem lived a peaceful life full of opportunities. Due to their status it was expected of him to master both reading and writing, learning rituals and intricacies of etiquette and social interactions among family members and strangers. Kareem was a healthy but thin, more drawn to the written word than physical activities, which lead to others of his age bullying him when the opportunity arose. In spite of this he found joy in riding horses and showed a certain talent for shooting crossbows.

### Tariq & Idris of the Azure Springs

One of the boys who seemed to have it out for Kareem was Tariq Hajjar, a boy of similar age. Due to constant harassment Kareem tried to use his one asset against the boy - his intellect. Approaching a traveling bard named Idris of the Azure Springs, he tried to have Tariq be shamed at least in song to 'one up' his enemy.

Idris, seeking to teach the foolish boy a lesson, instead sang about both Kareem and Tariq in less than pleasant terms. Ashamed, Kareem retreated, unaware that this event would trigger the downfall of his family.

Angered by his name being turned into laughing stock, young Tariq found Kareem, the two ending in a fist fight (the first Kareem ever had in his life). Strangely, after the two got done hitting each other, a kind of bond formed between them, Tariq destined to become Kareem's best friend in the years that followed.

### A family dishonored

Kareem had been unaware that Tariq's father, Hafiz, had envied the station of the boy's family for many years. Due to their income as rich traders they had a handful of enemies, all which happily worked with Hafiz to see them removed. Using the public shaming of his son as excuse he enacted a ploy which dishonored Kareem's family, leading to their exodus from Assar. Tariq fought against his father, seeing it as "unjust" as both him and Kareem were shamed in the bard's song, but it was for nought. The boy who had bullied Kareem for years had become his greatest ally, and most loyal friend, and kept him informed about many happenings in Assar.

What fate befell Kareem's family is not documented, Kareem himself using a title rather than his family name. What is for certain is that they never regained their status.

### Teens

For one reason or another, Kareem left his family behind and began to make money on his own. It was during these younger years that he began visiting brothels, finding himself smitten with one of the girls there named Amira. Like many men, he thought he was special enough that he could ensnare the heart of a woman that sells her body for coin, ... except that he actually managed to do so. Amira fell for his youthful charm, his large dreams and ability to produce coin when necesary. For a time she became his exclusive lover, the two of them even considered her leaving her old life behind and starting a new one.

Tragically, Amira ruined any hope of a happy relationship by being jealous beyond sane boundaries. Even Kareem talking to another woman was seen as some kind of betrayal. In the end he could not endure her spiteful ways for long, and did what any young heartbroken man would do - he ran.

### The Mage & The land far away

Using the money he had originally saved to ensure his and Amira's freedom and prosperity in a new city, Kareem charted a ship that left Ofir behind. While he originally planned to travel to Melukka, due to a mixup with the ships he ended up traveling to Nilfgaard instead. Still broken from having lost his 'one true love', he fell into nihilism and hopelessness. Most passangers avoided him, until he ran into a certain fellow who not only spoke to him but slapped him in the face with crudely worded truths. The older gruff gentleman soon revealed himself to be a mage, one that left Ofir to learn secrets in the city of Golden Towers. Kareem used his knack for conversation and trading, bribed the mage with tabacco and alcohol into spilling insights and secrets that the heartbroken boy drank up as if dehydrated. The mage named Kareem "Al'Nader", the rare one, a title he adapted from that moment on. When their voyage came to an end the mage vanished without trace, yet the knowledge of the over 200 year old man left Kareem forever changed.

Using the remainder of his fortune, Kareem established himself in Nilfgaard and the lands around it. Due to the pragmatism he had absorbed from the mage, he specialized in wares that would ensure costumers would come back - be it wine, tabacco or other alchemical wares that would lead to a certain level of addiction. His traveling routes began to expand further and further, with the ultimate goal of reaching Toussaint before the age of 30.

## Trials in the South

### Invaders

Kareem was traveling his merchant route once again, a circle that was ever expanding northwards in search for more opportunities. Claremont had been his destination a few times before, which is why the change of circumstances confused the ofiri to no end. Instead of entering the city as usual there was suddenly new fees and papers required, something quite unusual. It was thanks to the arrival of Fristos, son of Klestafraz, Nicolas du Lac and Arpád Császár that Kareem managed to enter the town without paying extra after all, a feat that intrigued him. When Nicolas brought back news that Nilfgaard was marching north to expand their borders the puzzle pieces came together - and a unique business opportunity was revealed.

### Deja-vu

Using his knowledge of the city, Kareem guided this band of unique individuals to the tavern known as *The Sunken Galleon* - a place he had come to trust in terms of discretion and good service. Making the best out of the opportunity the group shared food, tale, some tabacco and even played dice poker.

## Notes

* Kareem is named after "Karim" from the game Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem.
* Aside names and details, Kareem's entire backstory was decided by dice rolls.
* Kareem speaks Ofiri, Nilfgaardian, and slight amounts of Elder Speech. Due to his Nilfgaardian being shaky, he sometimes says the phrase "... how would you put it?" or "... how would you say it?"