Al-Khadir

Apu Ibn Jafar Al-Khadir is a Syrtirian theologist, historian and sorcerer. Al-Khadir's works are known both for their high level of detail and often controversial nature. Al-Khadir's most famous work is the immense Alnml Bayn Alaal: Een Tarykh Aleensan Walalhh Wqal anh Yabad (translated: Ants among Children: The History of Man and the Gods that he Praises).

Birth and Education
Al-Khadir rarely speaks of his childhood and no records of his birth are known to exist. Some scholars believe his origins lie in the nomadic tribes of the Almiah Valley although these beliefs are speculation at best. A small number of historical theologians and critics believe that that Al-Khadir is the product of an unholy union between a djinn and a witch called Daraatu although most legitimate scholars write this theory off as superstition.

While his early education is unknown, Al-Khadir's formal education began in his teenage years funded by an anonymous benefactor. His education took place at the Universities of Yasra, Dohlhiska, and finally Boulaia where he studied theology, world history, astronomy, philosophy, medicine and the arcane sciences. Known now for his outspoken world views and boisterous demeanor, schoolmates describe his educational life as shy and bookish. One of his instructors described him as "an intelligent young man who's fire of life is kept dim by a shroud of pessimism."

During his education Al-Khadir's works were fairly few and consisted mostly of reference and biographical work.

Early Works
Following his education Al-Khadir found immediate employment as a personal scribe and assistant to Ahmad Al-Hassan, known in the west as "The Sorcerer of Vaal". During this time he wrote the biographical tale of Al-Hassan titled Dm Aadaeey (translation: The Blood of My Enemies). Al-Khadir also spent this time authoring a few small works for himself, including poetry and fiction. Studies of these early works indicate that Al-Khadir refined his writing style while travelling with Al-Hassan, establishing his now popular style of including arcane terminology in texts intended for lay readers.

With the death of Al-Hassan at the hands of Wilfred the Pious, Al-Khadir found himself a free and wealthy man. He traveled extensively, exploring ruins, researching libraries and interviewing anyone of importance. He paid armed escorts handsomely to venture deep below the earth in search of lost civilizations and clues to the past. Over many years Al-Khadir amassed a small fortune in artifacts and a greater fortune in knowledge. These adventures helped him author a large collection of historical and theological reference books and eventually led to his writing of the Alnml Bayn Alaal, an immense book detailing the history of mankind and their interactions with the Gods.

Reception and Controversy
The Alnml Bayn Alaal was released to much controversy. Al-Khadir's contemporaries applauded him for writing such a realistic and fact-based history of the world while his critics condemned him for his heretical views. The tome was banned in many areas and to this day many municipalities view possesion of the tome as a crime punishable by death.

The majority of the Alnml Bayn Alaal is historical text liberally flavored with religous facts and told in a way that it is accessible to scholar and laymen alike. What generated the most controversy though, was Al-Khadir's claim that the Gods were meaningless.


 * "It is clear that the Gods, if they exist at all, are more akin to children at play than beings of omnipotence. The Gods care not for us and our trials. We are meaningless to them and as such, they too are meaningless to us."

Since writing the Alnml Bayn Alaal many religous groups and wealthy individuals have offered substantial rewards to anyone who can capture or kill Al-Khadir and questions have been raised seeking information about his birth and his true age. Al-Khadir has not been seen since the release of the Alnml Bayn Alaal, although new texts supposedly authored by him do appear from time to time. He is rumored to be living somewhere in the caves surrounding the Almiah Valley.