15 Jason vs ….?

I watched Dune and decided to look up the Arabic word for liberator

I found this one al-Muḥarrir (I might me wrong)

It means the liberator and sometimes the editor. It sounded cool, so the people of Lhazar will now use this title.

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Jason found himself standing in the center of his opulent room in the newly built grand temple. It was lavishly adorned with the finest luxuries his newfound power and wealth could procure. The room was bathed in the soft glow of lamps and smelled of incense, an offering by a merchant supposedly from a faraway land beyond the Saffron Straits.

He was confused. What was he doing here? He rubbed his temples, trying to piece together the missing fragments of his memory. Hadn't he been discussing future plans for Haven and Kosrak with Garth in his new mansion just moments ago? Or was he training with the immortals? Shaking his head in confusion, he walked to his large bed and lay on its silk sheets, imported from Yi-Ti. His gaze fell on the nearby window; it was dark outside. He approached the window and saw no stars or the view of Kosrak in the distance he always saw; it was simply dark.

'What the fuck is going on?' he thought, taking a few steps back from the window.

"Sam," he called. Sam was one of the immortals, always posted to guard his door, but no answer came. They always appeared in an instant when he called, but now there was only an unsettling silence.

He slowly approached the door, expecting to see his loyal immortals stationed outside. They were just pranking him, he reasoned, but he was wrong. There was no one in the hallway outside; he could hear no sound as well. It was like he was the only living thing in the whole world. He traversed the empty hallway, shouting for the Immortals or anyone who could hear him. Each call he made echoed through the grand corridors, returning to him empty and hollow.

Reaching the end of the hallway, Jason arrived at the door that would take him to the throne room. As he got closer, the heat began to intensify. An unnatural warmth seemed to emanate from the very stones of the grand temple. 

He opened the door but immediately had to shield his eyes due to the blinding light from the room. He walked inside, and as his eyes adjusted, Jason saw the source of the glaring light and oppressive heat: a colossal brazier stood on the dais, its flames dancing wildly, casting ominous shadows on the walls. It was on the spot where his throne was supposed to be.

'I've seen this before,' he thought, taking small steps towards the brazier. Whispers swirled around him, unintelligible at first but growing clearer as he drew nearer to the fire.

"Vessel... Vessel..." the voices echoed, each repetition more insistent than the last. Jason's mind raced. 'Vessel?' His unease grew.

As if compelled by an unknown force, he stepped closer to the flames, the heat starting to hurt a bit. The whispers grew louder, more demanding. "Closer... closer..." they urged.

Heart pounding, Jason leaned in, his eyes locked on the mesmerizing flames. To his surprise, he began seeing visions within the fire. A series of fragmented images and sounds flashed before him with dizzying speed.

It was horrifying. He saw mobs massacring people as they begged for the great shepherd for help, villages burning. 

The scenes shifted to him with Garth, Irina, Cregan, and a silver-haired girl by his side, looking at a burning city as a dragon flew overhead. A large army assembled before him, chanting "al-Muḥarrir! (the liberator) al-Muḥarrir! (the liberator)"

The voice continued chanting the title as the heat in the room began to increase. Jason moved away from the flames and ran towards the exit, but to his shock, he saw the walls drawing near him; the room was decreasing in size. Every breath he took was one of agony as the heat continued to increase.

"al-Muḥarrir! al-Muḥarrir!" The voices continued to chant, getting louder and louder, the chant echoing in his skull like a relentless drumbeat.

The room continued to contract as he saw the brazier's flames reaching out to him. Just as the pain became unbearable, as his flesh felt like it would ignite from the intense heat, Jason let out a piercing scream, a desperate plea for escape from this nightmare. And then, suddenly, he was jolted awake, finding himself writhing in his bed, drenched in sweat. He felt the cool silk sheets on his skin a sharp contrast to the hell he thought he was in.

Gasping for air, Jason clutched at the sheets, his heart pounding against his chest. He could still feel the heat on his skin, the smell of burning flesh.

"It was just a dream... it was just a dream," he began to mutter. He knew he would not be able to get any more sleep after that; he was too afraid to do so.

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Garth stood by the window of his solar, his gaze fixed on the distant city of Kosrak. This, in his opinion, was one of the best aspects of living on the summit of Haven. The room was filled with the quiet rustle of parchment as his aide, a young man named Darien, diligently read out the latest reports.

"The people are growing restless, my lord," Darien said, concern lacing his voice. "There have been small disruptions in Haven and Kosrak. The absence of The Great One is causing unease."

Three months ago, Jason began his seclusion in the Grand Temple, and since then, not even Irina or Garth had been able to see him. His disappearance was sudden and without explanation; only selected immortals were allowed inside. 

Jason's disappearance was out of character for him; he enjoyed the attention he received and would regularly visit the people of Haven and Kosrak, sometimes even journeying to the nearby villages. He was also a constant presence while building his projects, some of which were a great boon for the people. Now, his sudden disappearance had begun to cause unease and speculation among the populace. 

"Yes, Darien, I anticipated as much. His prolonged absence is not something we can simply brush under the carpet," Garth turned from the window, his expression contemplative. "We need to manage this carefully. Start spreading rumors that our god is on a secret quest. Tell them he will return soon."

Darien hesitated, adjusting the stack of parchment in his hands. "Is that wise, my lord?"

Garth's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "Do as I command, Darien."

"Shall I request help from the priestesses? It would be easier with their help," Darien suggested.

"I doubt you will find any help there," Garth scoffed at the suggestion.

Garth had predicted something like this would happen; he even warned Irina about it a month ago. He had suggested a joint effort to calm the people's nerves, proposing they present a united front to assure the populace that Jason's absence was temporary and for a greater purpose, but she had rebuffed him, and now she was paying the price. Irina had taken the brunt of the blame for Jason's disappearance. As factions led by him and Irina had started to openly blame each other, increasing the tension within the city.

"Irina has been... difficult," Garth finally said, breaking the silence that followed his thoughts. "She believes we have angered our god, hence his withdrawal." he paused. " It's preposterous." he added, shaking his head.

Darien was silent for a moment. "Have we angered him, my lord?" he asked in a low voice.

Garth paused, even his aides were getting restless it seems. "No, Darien, I know him more than anyone. You have not angered him," Garth said firmly.

"His actions are often unpredictable, and his reasons his own; it is not our place to question his motives," Garth added, channeling Irina as much as he can.

"One more thing, my lord, about the tour, are you still…?"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden entrance of another of his aides. "My lord, Arch Priestess Irina is on her way here."

"Is she alone?" Garth asked.

"No, she brings the sisters with her," he replied, a hint of concern in his voice.

Garth's expression hardened. "Have the immortals here assembled in the hall. We'll meet her there," he commanded as he made his way to the large room in his mansion.

Garth stood in the room, with immortals lined up behind him. The doors to the hall swung open, and Irina entered. Behind her, the Sisters of Battle followed; a group of tall, beautiful women, their expressions stoic and their movements graceful. They wore no armor, as Jason had begun his seclusion before he could craft them one, something they took to mean he had not officially sanctioned them yet. So, they had turned to Irina for guidance, something she immediately exploited to consolidate her power and to get ahead of him.

As Irina and her entourage approached, Garth straightened, his gaze never faltering. The immortals behind him stood silent and motionless. She stopped a few feet away from him, and they stood in silence for a moment, their followers mirroring their leaders' standoff.

"Arch Priestess," Garth greeted, breaking the heavy silence, his voice steady but cool. He noted the anger flashing in her eyes, her posture rigid with barely contained fury.

Irina responded with a curt nod, her voice icy. "Grand Vizier."

"Why are you here, Irina?" Garth asked, getting straight to the point.

"I'm here because of the chaos you've sown!" Irina retorted sharply. "I know you spread rumors that I am the reason our god has disappeared!"

"They come to me for answers, but I have none. Now with your scheming, they are starting to blame me," she continued, her words laced with venom, her face a mask of barely controlled fury. "You have always tried to interfere in my work, always trying to undermine my efforts to spread the words of our lord."

Garth remained composed. "And another group is blaming me, and some blame Cregan. You are not the only one, Irina," he said, his annoyance growing.

"And my concerns have always been about the manner in which you 'spread the word', not the message itself. You can't force it upon people," he added.

She clenched her fists, the Sisters of Battle behind her shifting uneasily. "I did what was necessary for the glory of our god! And now, because of you, he's retreated from us all!"

"Oh, I'm to blame now? Let's hear it then," Garth challenged.

Irina remained silent.

"Remember when he commanded you to not discriminate against the followers of the old faith," Garth said looking at Irina. "But you did not listen, did you?" Garth continued.

"Lies! I have followed his every command. The old faith is practiced safely; there is no…" she protested.

"Yes, in Kosrak and Haven, but what of the villages, especially the new ones to be added, and what of Hesh? I have received some damning reports, Arch Priestess," Garth pressed.

"Yes, there have been some…" she began to say, trying to defend herself.

"No, there have been a lot, and we still do not know what is happening in Lhazosh. Maybe the people are right, Irina. Maybe you are the reason for his seclusion. Maybe you are the one who angered him," Garth said, his voice rising in intensity.

Garth's accusations hit a nerve. Her face reddened, and she took a step forward. "I am the reason he is free once more. I prayed for a new god in my darkest hour," she began, her voice rising with each word. "And then, that prayer was answered when he came, freed from his prison. He chose to walk among us because of my faith," she said, emphasizing 'my faith.' "I have done everything in my power to serve him faithfully. It cannot be me who displeased him…"

Garth almost laughed at her self-righteous proclamation, but before he could retort, an immortal walked in — not just any immortal but one from Jason's personal guard.

"The Liberator has requested your presence, Grand Vizier. He wishes to see you off personally," the immortal announced, his voice devoid of emotion.

Both Garth and Irina were taken aback, their argument momentarily forgotten. Garth, in particular, was stunned. "See me off? For what?"

"For your tour of the lands," the immortal answered.

"He... he wants to see me off? After three months of silence, this is how he makes…" Garth failed to respond comprehensively.

"The Great One has spoken," the Immortal interrupted firmly. "He has also decreed that the people of the city assemble to give you a grand send-off. It is his will that this message be relayed to the people immediately."

Garth and Irina exchanged a look of surprise and confusion, their argument forgotten. "This is... Has he said anything else? What has he been doing all this time?" Garth had a thousand questions needing answers.

The Immortal shook his head. "He has given no further details, only that he wishes to meet with you at the Grand Temple before your departure."

"And we shall do as he commands. I shall spread this joyous news to all," Irina said, walking out of the room with the sisters following behind her.

'Three months of silence, and now this,' he mused.

"Darian, resume the preparation for the tour. It seems we are going after all."

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Haven was alive with energy as people from all corners of the city, as well as those from Kosrak, gathered in the streets. Garth's send-off had turned into a grand celebration. People adorned in their finest attire filled the city and lined the winding roads. After three months of silence and uncertainty, the news of their god's return had spread like wildfire, igniting fervor among the populace. Relief and joy were evident in their eyes as they waited for him to appear.

Vendors took advantage of the large crowds, selling food and drinks, while musicians and performers added to the festive atmosphere. Children ran through the crowds, laughing and playing, and soldiers patrolled the streets to ensure order and safety during the festivities.

As Garth made his way to the entrance of the Grand Temple, people parted ways, their cheers and chants filling the air. They called out his name and title. It was a feeling he was still getting used to; he had come a long way from being a bastard maester from the Reach. 

The large terrace at the summit was filled with a sea of faces; people from all walks of life had assembled there. The immortals were in full force, forming a formidable line around the base of the stairs and up towards the entrance. 

Garth ascended the stairs, his eyes catching sight of Irina waiting at the top. She ignored him, her gaze fixed on the massive doors of the Grand Temple. He stood beside her, reminding her that they were of equal rank. Oh, how he wished Cregan were here, but the man had left for Hesh two months ago in preparation for the campaign up the second branch of the Skahazadhan.

The doors of the Grand Temple swung open, and a wave of noise from the crowd surged forward, chants of "al-Muḥarrir! al-Muḥarrir!" filling the air.

Jason emerged from the shadows of the temple, flanked by his personal guard. The sight of him brought a mixed feeling of relief and apprehension. The once vibrant and energetic figure now appeared weary, with dark circles under his eyes. He had grown out his beard and hair, both neatly groomed, and donned a new set of golden armor. Garth noticed how he used his spear for support as he walked.

As Jason stepped into view of the masses, the crowd's roar intensified, their chants growing louder: "al-Muḥarrir, al-Muḥarrir, al-Muḥarrir"

Irina immediately bowed and greeted him with deference. Jason acknowledged her with a nod, his expression unreadable. Garth followed suit, though his eyes remained fixed on Jason, searching for answers.

Jason's eyes then met his; a small smile appeared on his face. He pulled him into an embrace. "It's been a while," he said, sounding tired.

Garth, concerned and bewildered, asked, "What happened, Jason? Why did you…"

"Later, Garth. Now smile and wave," Jason interrupted, as he walked forward to wave at the masses. He motioned for them to be silent, and they obeyed. As silence fell, he began to speak.

"Today we mark a momentous occasion. Our esteemed Grand Vizier, the most faithful servant of our realm and the bearer of my trust, embarks on a noble quest."

The crowd listened intently, hanging on his every word.

"He will travel to Hesh, a city that has accepted my enlightened rule, and then he shall travel to Lhazosh and offer them to join in my protective embrace, thereby uniting all of Lhazar under my divine rule," he proclaimed, gesturing with his hands.

The crowd's response was deafening; the chants of al-Muḥarrir filled the air once again as Jason raised Garth's hands into the air.

"Jason, you still haven't told us what you were doing for the last three months," Garth said, still smiling as he waved.

"Let's go, Garth," he said, ignoring his question, leading him down the stairs. But as they reached the middle, he paused and turned to Irina, who was following them as well. His eyes lingered on Irina for a moment, to which Irina responded, "My lord, do you need anything from me?"

"Wait for me in the throne room; I'll return after seeing Garth off," Jason said, dismissing a clearly shocked Irina. He could see a mix of fear and confusion on her face. She nodded and walked back to the entrance.

Jason and Garth led the procession down through the winding streets of Haven, waved and cheered as they passed by. Their voices merged in a powerful chorus that echoed off the stone walls: "al-Muḥarrir, Grand Vizier, al-Muḥarrir, Grand Vizier…"

Garth noted that Jason had masked his weakened appearance by wearing his new golden armor and sometimes used his spear for support.

As they reached the base of the city, Jason turned to the gathered crowd, his demeanor shifting from that of a weary man to the benevolent god they knew and revered. He greeted the people with a warm smile, moving among them, even blessing a baby held out by its mother.

Jason then led Garth towards his horse. Seizing this opportunity, Garth pressed for more answers. "Jason, what happened? Why did you…" He did not let him finish his sentence this time as well.

"We'll have plenty of time to talk in Lhazosh," he said, interrupting.

"All this" he said, gesturing to the people. "Is your doing; if it weren't for you, this whole thing would have fallen apart. I promise I will involve myself more from now on," Jason continued, his voice carrying a hint of remorse.

Garth was stunned by the admission and the change in Jason's demeanor. He was too stunned to speak, wondering what could have happened to this man in the last three months to cause such a drastic change.

Jason's gaze turned serious. "We have new enemies, Garth, something I did not expect. I need to discuss this with Irina first, to plan our next move."

'What enemies? Jason, what are you talking about?' Garth thought, hearing his elusive responses.

Knowing he would not get any answers, Garth mounted his horse and rode out of the city with his retinue following him. There were a thousand questions swirling in his mind, but he put those thoughts to rest as he and his retinue had a long journey ahead of them.

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