Istam was so relieved at his new found freedom that he began a two year stint of wanton debauchery. Seki Purma was more than happy to supply her son/grandson with and endless supply of concubines and wives, and decreed that no jann should ever love his mother or sister again. During this period many new laws were created which gave more rights to slaves and Istam personally oversaw the sealing of the "Crypt".
Many Massarin families feared for their daughters in the presence of Istam, for none had the power to refuse him, during his two years of hedony he took a concubine from nearly every noble house until his harem numbered seven hundred. Unfortunatley for Istam he was nearly impotent and fathered only one son Ovgormangis and two daughters Sedna and Halhabra. The harem became a hotbed of scandal and politics, concubines and wives were known to fight openly with daggers and the aging Seki Purma was killed in one such duel. The cult of Seseine became popular and Incubi were seen to haunt the harem roof at night. Istam was enraged at the actions of his wives and death of his mother that he called his Calari Police to his side and drove the women from the harem, running them into the hills with "leopards at their heels".
The Massarin houses were so distraught at the treatment of their daughters that they sought the downfall of Istam. On many occasions were his servants caused to revolt or his food poisoned. But Istam survived each coup or assasination.
Istam began to rebuild the content of his harem, taking into it foreign or slave girls. He eventually settled with only seventeen concubines, hoping that the magical number would preserve him. Istam it was noted had a great fetish for feathers, his clothes, curtains and wall were all decorated in feathers and he insited that his courtiers dress as birds to honour his fetish. He began to sell concessions and positions of power for exotic feathers, but would buy none handled by a Vadeli.
Istam was prone to great rages, which lasted many days. Unlike his forefathers he channeled theses rages and used them against the enemies of Afadjann, unfortunatley his actions often turned friends into enemies.
Throughout Istam's reign the Vadeli Empire was ever present, his country was in no position to resist their power, as they controlled all the seas. Istam would not cooperate, but could not refuse to do so. His ambassadors smoothed the way and kept the peace with the oppressers, but secretly Istam boiled. In 1094 the Vadeli fleet was engaged in conflict at sea by the hero Hoom Jhis from the East. Istam had heard through his on land connections of the war fleets arrival and made sure that his flag ship was present at the battle with him aboard. The Vadeli were smashed against Oenriko rocks, as was the Maslo fleet, but Istam sailed from the battle victorious(7).
Upon his return Istam made sure that he was proclaimed a hero and had statues depicting his valour erected in all coastal ports. He also took the measure of having each crewman entered into his household as personal servants, those that refused died secretly.
It is said that for the next seventeen years Afadjann became a place of peace and harmony(8). Istam chose his governors and ambassadors wisely(9), the harvests were bountiful and the slaves gained new levels of freedom. Ovgormangis, the young prince grew up happily in the harem, educated by the finest tutors and attended to by the most beautiful of concubines.
Istam still had enemies though, the Massarin houses he had dishonoured had no love for him, in back streets Vadeli still lurked and in far off Teshvashoros Astamanyx plotted against his brother.
Astamanyx had become ruler of Teshvashoros through wit and force, his people
had become totally loyal to him and were willing to die for their lord.
Astamanyx told the truth of the former and present Jann's sanity, and proved the
stability of his own mind(10). In 1113 Astamanyx made an alliance with His Holy
Munificence Archiodomides the Heartless and Openhanded, vessel of Tndiji and
Ikadz. Through this alliance Astamanyx gained money and then ships. He sealed
off Hombori Tondo and raided the Palace, with the aid of "two thousand Massarin
houses and their servants."(11). Istam was found hiding in the harem, "dressed
in ostrich feathers and cowering behind his wives!". Astamanyx seized his
brother a threw him from the Tower of Submission. The corspse of Istam I was
noted to be grinning as he was carved into the seventeen pieces and placed in
the sacred canopic jars. Astamanyx I was proclaimed Jann on the same day,
"blessed by Darleester the Noose and the world itself!"
Ovgormangis escaped the fate of his father, it is said that he was carried away to Barueli by, " inhuman servant of the High Priest of the Hungry Goddess." The rest is history.
7) ..Battle of Oenriko rock - Istam I is believed to have hid in a cove until the battle was completed and was then going to choose a side to support, fortunatley there were few witnesses to the event.
8)..Peace and harmony - According to all state sanctioned sources, but folk songs tell a different tale.
9) ..ambassadors wisely - They were selected by the High Priest of Darleester the Noose and not Jan Istam.
Cheers all.
Simon Bray.
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