Citizen Sesel

 After the flurry of activity at the Ringing Anvil and the rumors that flew about as the tower of the windmill was raised, there was only a short lull before a new curiosity caught the attention of the myriad tongues that wag and wander incessantly through the harbor of Cothon--the rumor that Sesel, Voice of the Survivors, was seeking citizenship of Gadeed, Mother of Cities! Sponsored by no lessers than the great tribe Banu al Rashid!

Much has been supposed in the last few months, as word of Zaida al Rashid's accompaniment of the expeditions into the Attine Spire wended through the city, but all was confirmed this week as Sesel was called before the magistrates of the Court of the Mount in Gadeed herself. Entering into Court with his sponsor, Khaled "the Stammerer" al Rashid (incidentally, the rhetor who argued on behalf of the Survivors of the Tel in their case v. the Barcidae), Sesel stood before the magistrates and gave answer to the questioned formulate of the magistrates of the City:

1. What wealth do you claim? (the better to establish your class as Citizen)
2. Do you make any claims to rights or pedigrees according to your ancestors? (i.e. now is the time to declare and argue for any presumption on your part of nobility)
3. What is your profession? (again to establish class; "man-at-arms" being an acceptable "noble" profession)
4. Do you swear loyalty to Gadeed, to Cothon, and to the Souffets? To keep arms and/or to provide for the arms of your servants or slaves, all in greater service to the Mother of Cities and the Ten Cities' League? (this last being especially emphasized, given the recent lawlessness and rioting)

Though his answers are, of course, his to know, and the magistrates' to keep, nevertheless he was afforded this certificate of Citizenry (and the particulars of his class will be worked out according to his answers and to his situation as-sponsored by the Bani al Rashid):

Written in an older liturgical version of the current tongue, this document certifies that Sesel is indeed a citizen, on this day, [30 July]. The red wax overlaying name and date do somewhat to make the reading difficult in this format, but they are written out as per the formulae. From this date, Sesel is a citizen of Gadeed, granted full rights to the City and her Courts, and to marriage with her other citizens ... and there is rumor that just such a marriage may in fact be in the works?!

For there is a great deal of activity in the household of the al Rashids bespeaking a great feast, of many hmela bought to be sacrificed, and dancers and musicians sought after and paid, and many amphorae of wine. So wagging tongues have yet a little more to talk about before the next curiosity, which is a rumor that the Souffets will soon upend and replace the current tax-farming procedures.