Hassans past
Hassan was born to an upper middle class, mercantile family. His father was a well-respected Shiekh. He had 3 older brothers, two who followed their father into shipping, and one (the eldest) who became an Admiral in the royal navy of Assur. Strangely, Hassan was never connected to the water, didnt learn to swim, and had little interest in the family business. He is a worshipper of Manann, yet far from devout.
When hostilities with the Empire began to escalate Tariq decided his family would not be war profiteers, but would instead commission their ships to the war effort. Hassan, unlike the other brothers, chose to serve on land. He was now 15 and showing an interest and affinity for magic. The family had enrolled him in formal training, but it would be postponed while he travelled with the army. This is where he learned the basics of the healing arts.
Soon after Tariq died, leaving Admiral Sahar as the family patriarch, but he was away at war. This left his mother in charge of the home. She was very reluctant to send Hassan out, and kept him home as long as possible.
Eventually they called, and Hassan served. He rode in caravans behind the army and tended to wounded soldiers. He also consorted with the mages who travelled in their military, and began to learn some rudimentary usage. After a few months of fighting their army was encircled by two columns from the industrial city of Nuln. At the last moment word was sent to the main force under the command of Salud-al-din that their army was in grave danger and needed to be rescued. The warriors fought bravely, knowing their most feared and skilled general would save them, but the relief never arrived.
The army was forced to surrender, and they were dealt a ruthless hand by the commanding general, Bruno Hagbard. He had all officers beheaded and the soldiers and support personnel sent to Matorca to be sold as slaves. He declared this as revenge for brutal treatment of Empire soldiers in captivity, but secretly everyone knew it was because his younger brother had been killed in action the previous month.
His life in Matorca was brutal and hard, but luckily it was not to last long. He was sold to a merchant family from Marienburg. He returned with them and worked in their glaziers shop. A few weeks after he arrived the youngest daughter caught a deadly fever, but Hassan was able to nurse her to health. This earned him great respect in the family. He lived among them as basically a freeman. When the settlement was reached that all slaves should be freed, his patron was happy to oblige. He offered to pay passage back to Assur, but Hassan wanted to stay. He had received words that his brothers had been killed, and the family business was destroyed by the invaders. He had no home to which he could return.
Instead his patron used his influence to land an apothecary's apprentice position. Alois Reiter was happy to take on someone who had learned something of healing previously, and secretly he also savored the opportunity to help one who is dealt with prejudice, for he understood it well.
As they became closer he alluded that he knew Hassans secret. It was hard for Hassan to admit that he was a magic user, considering the Empire's opinion on the subject, but he trusted Alois and he again renewed his training. Within a few months he was well known to the customers of the apothecary, and everyone liked him well.
That all changed when Alois died. At first some agitators accused him of the murder, but there was no evidence. Alois had died suddenly, yet naturally. He took over the business, but no one would patronize the establishment. After a few months he was forced to sell, and he now finds himself on a trek to Altdorf, where hopefully more opportunity and less racism will present itself.
